by Tokie Laotan

Created on: September 27, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2010

The world is getting too warm too fast, as a result of global warming. There are massive glacier melts in virtually everywhere from African mountain peaks to South American summits. Glaciers in Alaska resulting in melt waters are sufficiently large to drive up global sea levels by 0.14 millimetres per year. The study by Dr Keith Echelmeyer, of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and colleagues used laser altimetry to measure the volume changes of 67 Alaskan glaciers.

Their work, published in the journal Science, adds to the growing evidence that the level of recent glacier melts, all over the world, has been understated. Satellite observations indicate that Greenland's glaciers melts large chunks of ice into the Atlantic Ocean that seems to be doubling over the years. The findings hereby state the need to emphasize the effect of climate change on the world's ice sheets and sea levels.In Switzerland, Glaciers are shrinking at record rates which will disappear within decades.Scientists measuring the health of almost 30 glaciers around the world found that ice loss reached record levels in 2006, the UN agency,Environment Program has investigated the impact of the result.

The United Nations Environmental program also warned that further ice loss could have dramatic consequences particularly in India, whose rivers are fed by Himalayan glaciers.The west coast of North America, which gets much of its water from glaciers in mountain ranges such as the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, also would be affected.

The rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, increasingly shows the result of global warming, this will have magnitude impact for communities living along the coast, who rely on the glacial melt water. A comprehensive study on the impact of warming temperatures on glaciers and glacial lakes in the Himalayan region warns of impending glacial lake outburst of floods.The rising waters from glacial melt can breach dams which are now increasingly growing. Measures need to be put in place to avert disaster.The importance of these glaciers to mountain communities should be taken seriously. Global impacts on glacier melts affects water shortages to the mountain regions increasing drought, which will then affect water for crops, electrical generation. There is a need to continue watching glaciers and glacial lakes to ensure they are managed effectively as they can become valuable water resources.There is also the need to have early warning programs, like satellite monitors and alleviation measures which are also important in reducing risks to vulnerable mountain communities.

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