Context

• According to new research, icebergs are breaking from Antarctica, due to increase in temperature the ice is also melting rapidly.

Key Points

• Recently, a big sign of climate change has been seen in the United Arab Emirates. The highest rainfall has been recorded here in 75 years.
• Here, more than ten inches of rainfall in 24 hours has submerged large areas of the desert in water.
• The world's busiest Dubai International Airport located here also sank.
• Apart from this, as another indication, it was seen that the iceberg which broke away from Antarctica in the year 1986 and remained stable, has now started flowing on the sea surface.
• Pictures taken from satellite have revealed that this iceberg weighing about one lakh crore tonnes is now moving towards the northern tip of Antarctica due to strong winds and water currents.
• This iceberg is spread over about four thousand square km, in size it is about six times bigger than the area of Mumbai of 603 square km.
• Its height is 400 meters. Devastating consequences will be seen in the metropolis where it will hit.
• Along with this, if we talk about the Arctic, then according to the study of America's 'National Snow and Science Data Centre', in the year 2014 alone, the ice layer in 32.90 lakh square km area of the North Pole has melted.
• This area is almost equal to the land of India. According to this institute, the ice at the North Pole is no longer as hard as it was in 1979. Its solid ice level has decreased by 40 percent.

Impact on the Arctic

• Continuous studies are being done on the impact of climate change on the North Pole i.e. the Arctic.
• These studies highlight the melting, breaking and cracking of huge icebergs, the shifting of the Earth's magnetic field, the entry of polar bears into human settlements, and the decline in seal fish, all natural signs that clearly indicate the impact of Earth's rising temperatures on the Arctic.
• Environmental scientists are seeing this change as a major threat to marine creatures, ships, penguins, small islands and metropolises.
• The total area of the North Pole is 21 million square km. Out of this, the surface of the 1.30 crore square km area is covered with a thick layer of snow.
• Due to being covered with snow, the average temperature here is negative 10 degrees Celsius. In winter it goes down to negative 68 degrees. This ice covered area is called the Arctic Ocean.
• The Arctic usually refers to the region that surrounds the North Pole.
• The Arctic's land area extends to the shores of Siberia in Russia, Iceland, Greenland, northern Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the northern continental United States, Alaska, most of Canada, and the Arctic Archipelago community and many other islands.
• There are immense reserves of oil, natural gas and coal in this area.
• Here, due to climate change and intensification of business activities, the ecosystem has been negatively impacted. As a result, the existence of aquatic and terrestrial animals found here like polar bears, seals, belga whales, male whales, blue whales and whalers is in danger.

Adverse Effects Of Climate Change

• Due to increasing temperature on the earth in the North and South Pole regions, melting of ice and extreme heat or cold etc. are the factors of climate change.
• The melting of Taten, a floating glacier in Antarctica, has been estimated by scientists to be much more than what was estimated. Due to this, there is a possibility of sea level rise.
• According to a study conducted by Paul Binberry of the University of Washington, if Antarctica's ice continues to melt like this, the sea level around the Southern Ocean will rise, due to which it can have an impact on other oceans as well.
• If the water level of these seas increases, its effect will be visible on the northern hemisphere of the Earth as well.
• Melting of ice also changes the nature of atmospheric circulation.
• The Southern Ocean extends around Antarctica. This ocean absorbs the largest amount of carbon dioxide emitted on Earth.
• This ocean absorbs about twelve percent of the carbon emitted throughout the year. But this is possible only when Antarctica's ice remains.
• In conclusion, it can be said that there is a need to take effective measures to control the rising temperature of the earth .

Important Facts For Exam

UAE

• Geographical location - Middle East Asia
• Capital - Abu Dhabi
• Largest city - Dubai
• Official Language - Arabic
• Currency - UAE Dirham
• Diplomatic relations were established between India and the United Arab Emirates in 1972.