When will the peak number of glaciers disappear annually?

The peak number of glaciers disappearing each year is projected to occur around mid-century, with the exact timing and extent dependent on global warming levels.

What is the definition of a glacier disappearing in the study?

A glacier is considered to have disappeared when its area falls below 0.01 square kilometers or its volume reaches less than 1% of its initial volume from around the year 2000.

How does global warming affect glacier extinction rates?

Higher levels of global warming significantly increase the rate of glacier extinction. For example, 4 degrees Celsius of warming could lead to approximately 4,000 glacier disappearances annually, versus 2,000 at 1.5 degrees.

Home / Environment / Peak Glacier Death Looms: Study Reveals Stark Future

Peak Glacier Death Looms: Study Reveals Stark Future

15 Dec

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Summary

Thousands of glaciers disappearing annually, peaking mid-century.
Warming to 2.7C could see only 20% of glaciers remain by 2100.
Glacier loss impacts water supply, tourism, and cultural heritage.

Peak Glacier Death Looms: Study Reveals Stark Future

Glaciers worldwide are facing unprecedented extinction, with new research projecting a peak of up to 4,000 disappearances per year by mid-century if current pollution levels persist. This stark warning comes as the world mourns symbolic losses, like the 700-year-old Pizol glacier in Switzerland, which officially "died" in 2019.

The study, published in Nature Climate Change, focused on tracking individual glacier disappearances rather than just ice mass loss. The rate of extinction is heavily dependent on global warming levels. At 1.5C warming, the peak loss is around 2,000 glaciers annually around 2041. However, at 2.7C, the projected warming if current pledges are met, the world will lose about 3,000 glaciers yearly between 2040 and 2060.

The consequences of this rapid melting extend beyond the visual loss of iconic ice bodies. Glaciers are crucial water sources for many communities, support tourism industries, and hold deep cultural significance. Under a 4C warming scenario, nearly all glaciers could be lost by 2100, underscoring the urgent need to address global heating and its profound environmental and societal impacts.