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27 Jun 2025
GS Paper 1
Geography
Day 11: “The poles are melting, but the consequences are not equally polar.”Examine how the melting of Arctic and Antarctic glaciers affect Earth’s atmospheric circulation, ocean currents, and human livelihoods in distinct ways. (250 words)
Approach
- Begin by introducing the phenomenon of polar ice melt.
- Examine the distinct causes of glacier melting at each pole.
- Analyze the differential consequences.
- Conclude with a relevant SDG reference.
Introduction :
The accelerated melting of glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is a stark consequence of global climate change. Although both poles are losing ice, the impacts of glacial melt are geographically and climatically distinct. The Arctic, largely an ocean surrounded by land, and the Antarctic, a landmass encased in ice and surrounded by ocean, influence Earth’s systems differently.
Body
Differing Causes of Melting
- Arctic (North Pole):
- Rapidly warming due to Arctic Amplification, where reduced sea ice lowers albedo, trapping more heat.
- Heavily affected by atmospheric warming due to proximity to continents.
- Melting is driven mainly by air temperature increases.
- Antarctic (South Pole):
- More insulated from atmospheric changes due to the surrounding Southern Ocean.
- Melting is driven more by oceanic warming, especially under ice shelves (e.g., Thwaites Glacier).
- West Antarctica is vulnerable, while East Antarctica remains relatively stable.
Impact on Atmospheric Circulation
- Arctic Melting:
- Weakens the polar jet stream, causing erratic weather in mid-latitudes.
- Linked to cold spells in North America and heatwaves in Europe and Asia.
- Intensifies extreme weather variability across the Northern Hemisphere.
- Antarctic Melting:
- Shifts Southern Hemisphere westerlies further south, affecting rainfall in Australia and South America.
- Alters polar vortex stability, influencing ozone recovery and climate dynamics in the southern latitudes.
Impact on Ocean Currents
- Arctic Consequences:
- The melting Greenland ice sheet contributes to freshwater input into the North Atlantic, weakening the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
- This can disrupt monsoons, cool Europe, and raise sea levels along the US East Coast.
- Antarctic Consequences:
- Melting ice shelves add freshwater to the Southern Ocean, potentially slowing global thermohaline circulation.
- Long-term contribution to global sea-level rise (e.g., West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse could raise sea levels by 3+ meters).
- Changes in upwelling systems affect nutrient cycles and marine biodiversity.
Impact on Human Livelihoods
- Arctic Impacts:
- Immediate consequences for indigenous communities reliant on permafrost and ice stability.
- New shipping routes (Northern Sea Route) and geopolitical tensions (e.g., Arctic Council dynamics).
- Coastal cities like Jakarta and Miami face sea-level rise from Greenland melt.
- Antarctic Impacts:
- Slower but globally distributed sea-level threats, especially for island nations (Maldives, Tuvalu).
- Disruption of fisheries due to changes in the krill population, impacting food security.
- Less immediate human habitation at risk, but far-reaching ecological and economic effects.
Conclusion:
The Arctic and Antarctic are both undergoing significant ice loss, but the impacts vary in scale, urgency, and regional consequences. As the World Economic Forum aptly notes, “What happens in the poles does not stay in the poles.” Tackling these polar asymmetries demands immediate, context-specific global responses, firmly aligned with SDG 13: Climate Action and the broader goals of climate resilience and sustainable development.
