GNY LIVE Ailing Glaciers: Aerosol Warming the Himalayas-Insights from Prof. Naresh Chandra Pant on glaciers, air pollution and climate change

The Himalayan glaciers face significant climate change and air pollution threats. In this episode of GnY-Live, Professor N C Pant, a renowned geologist and a cryospheric expert, discusses the impact of air pollution on glaciers, particularly in the Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau regions, with Dr Sulagna Chattopadhyay, Editor-in-Chief, GnY. Professor Pant explains aerosols—fine particles in the atmosphere—affect the health of glaciers and contribute to global warming. Beyond the impact of carbon dioxide, aerosols increase heat retention in the atmosphere by as much as 50 percent. Also, Prof Pant adds that 75 percent of the Himalayan glaciers have retreated in the past century, with aerosols exacerbating this trend. However, the Himalaya reacts differentially to warming, where the eastern glaciers display less retreat than the western glaciers. Professor Pant explains the role of human activities, such as mining and industrial emissions, in exacerbating these environmental issues and highlights the consequences for communities dependent on glacial meltwater, especially in regions like Punjab. The discussion emphasises the urgent need for sustainable practices, better scientific research, and more effective pollution management strategies. The episode underscores the importance of collective efforts to mitigate the environmental impact and preserve vital natural resources.

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