According to a new study, global water scarcity may intensify. Groundbreaking research indicates the world’s glaciers hold less ice than once speculated. Perhaps it is having significant aftermaths for global water resources as climate change progresses. Scientists have observed that the world’s glaciers contain 20% less water than previously thought. Also, curtailing the potential implications of sea-level surges due to the climate issue.
Advanced satellite technology was useful to make the discovery. On Monday, Nature Geoscience published the study,
A new atlas that maps over 250,000 glaciers throughout the world with velocity and depth measurements has rectified past calculations of glacial ice volume. Thus, disclosing that there is a fifth less ice accessible to contribute to sea-level rise.
Romain Millan, glaciologist, Université Grenoble Alpes, said, “We’ve had quite a poor understanding of how much ice is stored in glaciers”. Millan is also the lead author of the study.
Physical measurements were available for just about 2% of the world’s glaciers
Previous examinations, for specimen, have double-counted glaciers near the perimeters of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Hence, directing to an overestimation of ice volume. It gauged the glaciers’ velocity, or how swiftly they move across the landscape. It aids scientists in more specifically measuring volume.
The progression of the glaciers demonstrates whether the ice is thick or thin. The conclusions have ramifications for drinking water availability and water resources for power generation, agriculture, industry, and other purposes, according to the researchers.
Prevailing climate-driven sea-level rise projections will require to change to account for the new data. Thereby, enabling scientists to adequately evaluate the hazards to nearshore civilization around the world.
Satellite imaging, according to the researchers, is an indirect procedure of computing glacier thickness and then on-site observations should be formulated. Physical measurements were for just about 2% of the world’s glaciers. As it continues to melt, information on future meltwater availability will be crucial, especially for administrations to determine when and where to build water infrastructure.