Impact of Global Warming on Mountain Ranges

Context

Mountains, covering 33 million square kilometers of Earth’s surface, are vital ecosystems that provide freshwater to nearly 2 billion people. However, global warming is causing rapid and largely irreversible changes in mountain environments, posing serious threats to biodiversity, water resources, and human safety. Below is an in-depth analysis of how global warming impacts mountain ranges.

Accelerated Glacier Melting

Glaciers are retreating at unprecedented rates due to rising global temperatures. Since 1975, glaciers (excluding Greenland and Antarctica) have lost over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice mass—equivalent to an ice block the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 meters.

• Recent Trends: The past three years have recorded the highest glacial mass loss on record, with 450 gigatons lost in 2024 alone.
• Impact on Water Resources: Glaciers act as “water towers,” supplying freshwater to billions downstream. Their rapid melting disrupts water availability, leading to erratic flows and reduced water quality.
• Sea-Level Rise: Melted glacier ice contributes 25–30% of the observed increase in global sea levels. Between 2006 and 2016, glacier melt added nearly 1 mm annually to sea levels.

Thawing Permafrost

• Ecosystem Disruption: Permafrost stores approximately 4.5% of global soil organic carbon. Its thaw releases greenhouse gases like methane and CO2, exacerbating climate change.
• Increased Hazards: Thawing destabilizes rock slopes and moraines, increasing risks of landslides, erosion, and infrastructure collapse. For example, the Himalayas have experienced frequent landslides and flash floods due to permafrost melting.

Decline in Snow Cover

• Statistical Decline: Between 1979 and 2022, persistent snow cover showed a drop around 7.79% over the years. 
• Future Projections: Climate models reported reduction in snow cover as temperature increased together with irregular precipitation patterns in the future. 
• Hydrology: Reduced snow cover affects the water storage capacity in mountainous regions, resulting in irregularity of water flow downstream, and disrupting agriculture, hydropower generation, as well as drinking water supply.

Erratic Snowfall Patterns

• Elevation Change: Due to atmospheric warming, the elevation where rainfall turns into snowfall is changing toward higher levels, causing lower elevations to have a decreased amount of snow cover with respect to depth and duration.
• Rain vs. Snow: Rainfall events in some areas are replacing the precipitation events with snow which alters the seasonal availability of water and increases the risk of flooding.

Biodiversity Threats

• Migration of Species: Due to increased temperatures, species would seek migration upwards in search for habitats, but many will face extinction, like reaching the upper limits on mountains where conditions are not sustainable. 
• Alpine Ecosystems: Vulnerable to endemic species thriving in snow-covered habitats. For instance, the greening of mountain slopes due to forest expansion threatens native alpine flora and fauna.

Increased Natural Disasters

Global warming amplifies the frequency and intensity of natural disasters in mountainous regions.

• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Melting glaciers create unstable glacial lakes that can burst suddenly, causing catastrophic floods. GLOFs have claimed over 12,000 lives in the past two centuries.
• Landslides and Avalanches: Thawing permafrost destabilizes slopes, increasing landslide risks. Avalanches are also becoming more frequent due to erratic snowfall patterns.
• Flood Risks: Accelerated glacier melt contributes to river floods downstream, threatening communities and infrastructure.

Socioeconomic Impacts

The changes in mountain ecosystems have far-reaching consequences for human populations.

• Water Scarcity: Erratic water flows from melting glaciers affect agriculture, drinking water supplies, and hydropower generation for billions living downstream.
• Tourism Losses: Declining snow cover impacts winter tourism economies in regions like the Alps.
• Displacement: Increased natural disasters force communities to relocate, leading to internal displacement and economic instability.

Conclusion

The impact of global warming on mountain ranges is profound and multifaceted. From accelerated glacier melting to biodiversity loss and increased natural disasters, these changes threaten ecosystems and human livelihoods globally. Urgent climate action is essential to mitigate these effects and preserve the critical role mountains play in sustaining life on Earth.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the impact of global warming?

1. Melting glaciers contribute significantly to sea-level rise.
2. Increased global temperatures lead to more frequent extreme weather events.
3. Global warming has no impact on biodiversity in mountain ecosystems.

Options:

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: a)

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