17.6.1. Impact of glacial retreat

♤ The retreat of glaciers in the Andes and the Himalayas will have a potential impact on water supplies.

♤ Climate change may cause variations in both temperature and snowfall, causing changes in mass balance of a glacier.

♤ The Himalayas and other mountain chains of central Asia support large regions that are glaciated. These glaciers provide critical water supplies to dry countries such as Mongolia, western China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The loss of these glaciers would have a tremendous impact on the ecosystem of the region.

♤ World’s leading scientists predict that global warming may pose serious threat to national and global economy and the environment.

♤ The poor and low-lying countries will find it difficult to cope with the damages caused by changing climate and rise in sea level

17.6.2. Chain of events