By Victor Gaspar Filho and Thauan Santos |
A study funded by the UK Environmental Research Council noted that the acceleration of global ice loss is compatible with the worst-case scenario envisaged by International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The research was the first international one to be conducted by satellites, highlighting that the last three decades have experienced a 65% rise in ice melting progression. The study monitored sea ice from the Arctic and southern portions of the ocean, 215,000 glaciers in mountains, glacial valleys in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as platforms located in the Antarctic region. The largest absolute losses occurred in the Arctic Ocean and on the South Pole platforms. Suspended glaciers suffered almost 25% of the defrosting over the last 23 years. These are important sources of drinking water, which may subject local populations to stress.
Impacts on Defense and Security: The accelerated melting, by raising sea level, impacts coastal communities, provoking forced displacements. Furthermore, it changes basic features of coastal ecosystems, destroying entire habitats by altering their essential characteristics. Therefore, it poses a great risk to human, economic and environmental security in these affected areas.
Source: ENVIRONMENT NEWS. Global ice loss increases at record rate. University of Leeds. 01/25/2021. Available at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4756/global_ice_loss_increases_at_record_rate
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