Global warming spells disaster for tropical Andes glacier

 

Glacier monitoring technlogy shows the most rapid glacier deplection for at least three centuries. Big glaciers are shrinking, with small ones disappearing altogether.
Glaciers are the result of solid precipitation and reflects its variability from one year to the next. The ablation process, by which glaciers lose snow and ice, converting it into water and vapour - depends diectly on the energy balance. Therefore, the process of accumulation and ablation are the physical link between glaciers and climate .
Glacier deplection has increased dramatically in the second half of the 20th century, espically after1976.
small glaciers are the most vulnerable, and are disappearing. The consistency of this signal back from Colombia to Bolivia shows the homogeneity of the change in these low latitude mountains.
The energy balance at the glacier surface shows that the greatest energy available to melt ice comes from the radiative balance. The increasing atmospheric temperature observed at the elevations of 5,000m and more cannot melt ice directly, but change the nature of precipitation. Due to rise of the freezing line, the snow- rain limit is moving to a higher elevation. This prevents a  long-lasting snow cover with a high reflectivity to form and protect the glacier surface.
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                  Author-Geeta Nayal