Venezuela Becomes First Country To Lose All Glaciers

Venezuela is the first modern country to lose all of its glaciers, which is a huge change in the environment. New research shows that the Humboldt glacier in the Andes, which used to be very big, has shrunk to less than 2 hectares, which means it is no longer a glacier but an ice field.

The Decline of Glaciers in Venezuela

The Sierra Nevada de Mérida mountain range in Venezuela used to have six glaciers. As of 2011, five of these glaciers had melted away, leaving only the Humboldt glacier. Professionals thought Humboldt would last for another ten years, but new tests show it has melted much more quickly than expected.

Impacts of Climate Variability and Political Challenges

Venezuela’s political problems have made it harder for scientists to keep an eye on the ice and collect data over the past few years. Experts also say that climate change and the effects of the El Niño event, which caused high temperatures, are to blame for Humboldt melting faster.

Global Perspective and Future Projections

Around the world, glaciers are melting at very fast rates. It looks like Indonesia, Mexico, and Slovenia will be the next countries to lose their glaciers. Extreme temperatures and dry spells have caused the World Meteorological Organization to say that huge amounts of ice mass are being lost in Asia’s high mountain areas.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2024

Category: Environment Current Affairs