Venezuela Faces Losing Last Glacier Dire Warning on Climate Change

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Venezuela is on the brink of a historical environmental tragedy, with the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) sounding the alarm that it may soon become the first nation to lose all its glaciers. The Humboldt, or La Corona, once classified as the country's last glacier, has now been downgraded to an ice field, marking a significant milestone in the country's environmental decline.

 

The Humboldt glacier, nestled in the Andes, has dwindled to a fraction of its former size, shrinking from 450 hectares to a mere two, according to researchers at the University of Los Andes in Colombia. Luis Daniel Llambi, an ecologist at the university, grimly noted that even this estimate might be generous.

 

Dr. Caroline Clason, a glaciologist at Durham University, highlighted the drastic reduction in ice cover on the glacier since the 2000s, ultimately leading to its reclassification as an ice field. The diminishing ice mass reflects a broader trend of ice loss worldwide, contributing to rising sea levels and exacerbating the impacts of climate change.

 

While there's no universal standard for defining a glacier's minimum size, glaciologists typically recognize a mass of at least 10 hectares as meeting the criteria. However, recent measurements suggest that the Humboldt glacier may have fallen below this threshold as early as 2015-2016.

 

Efforts by the Venezuelan government to mitigate the glacier's loss by covering it with a thermal blanket have drawn criticism from local climate scientists. Concerns abound that such measures could introduce plastic contamination into the fragile ecosystem as the covering degrades.

 

Professor Mark Maslin of University College London underscored the irreversible nature of glacier loss, emphasizing the critical role glaciers play in regulating local climate and freshwater resources. As glaciers disappear, communities reliant on them for freshwater face heightened vulnerability during droughts and dry spells.

 

The implications extend beyond Venezuela, with climate scientists warning that other nations, including Indonesia, Mexico, and Slovenia, are also at risk of losing their glaciers. These smaller ice caps, though not significant contributors to sea-level rise, are vital for regional water security and ecosystem stability.

 

Amidst these dire warnings, there remains a glimmer of hope: by swiftly reducing carbon emissions, we can still preserve some of the world's remaining glacial deposits. Dr. James Kirkham and Dr. Miriam Jackson of the ICCI emphasized the urgency of action, noting that decisive measures could safeguard livelihoods and bolster energy, water, and food security for generations to come.

 

2024-05-12

 

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