Latest news with #InternationalYearofGlaciers'Preservation
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Glaciers front and centre in new Canmore exhibit
CANMORE — Icebergs, snow-capped peaks and glacial cores are on full display in the Canmore Art Guild's (CAG) feature gallery this month. In the spirit of the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation declared by the United Nations, the guild is showcasing glacier-themed pieces from over 20 artists throughout July. 'I thought it would make a good show and actually we were a bit concerned about how many people had pieces that linked to glaciers, and it turned out an awful lot did … We had more submissions than we anticipated,' said Jillian Roulet, president of the Canmore Art Guild (CAG). Receiving around 55 submissions, the show brings together photography, ceramics, fabric, paintings, glass and jewelry pieces, all speaking to the beauty and grandeur of glaciers, snow and ice in the Rockies and beyond. '[Glaciers] are quite inspiring. They're beautiful to look at, and they're becoming more rare in today's world, so they're pretty special. You can't find them everywhere,' said local photographer and CAG member Alex Popov. Showcasing eight landscape prints in the exhibit, Popov joined the guild for the first time this year after he heard about the glacier show. 'Out of all the pieces that I currently have printed, I think glaciers are probably the most common [one] that I have, and so I think there's something special about them that draws me to that kind of scenery,' he said. 'Usually, you only find them in high up locations that are difficult to access … They hold a special place in my heart.' Popov captures the Columbia Icefield and Mount Assiniboine's north glacier in a panoramic shot, along with several other glacial scenes from travels to Nepal and the Yukon. Other artists with work on display are Puck Janes, Claudia Schellenberg, Dana Roman, Carole Garland, among others. Announced in December 2022, the UN made 2025 the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation with the intent of raising awareness about the role and importance of glaciers, snow and ice in the environment and the implications of glacial melt worldwide. 'The preservation of glaciers stands as one of humanity's most urgent challenges. These ancient ice formations are not just frozen water – they are the guardians of our planet's climate history, the source of life for billions, and sacred places for many cultures. Their rapid disappearance is a stark reminder that we must act now,' said Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO in a January press release. The year was marked by a launch event back in January, followed by the designation of March 21 as the first World Day for Glaciers. '[The theme is] not just glaciers, but it's glacier preservation and that they are disappearing and shrinking very quickly, particularly the ones near us. Every year, you can see them receding,' said Roulet. The glacier exhibit opened on July 3 and runs until July 28 at the CAG gallery in Elevation Place. Running for 45 years, the volunteer-based art collective was formed back in 1980 by a group of local artists and now features a different group show every month. 'The founders wanted to show the community the kind of creative people that were here and so we now have 70 plus members,' said Roulet. Next month's group show displays the work of feature artist Gillian Quinn. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. The position covers Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation and Kananaskis Country. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Canada News.Net
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
International Year of Glaciers' Preservation: save the glaciers!
The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation to highlight the importance of glaciers and ensure that those relying on them, and those affected by cryospheric (1) processes, receive the necessary hydrological, meteorological, and climate services. Glaciers are crucial for regulating the global climate and providing freshwater, essential for billions of people. However, due to climate change, driven mainly by human activities since the 1800s, these vital resources are rapidly melting. The resolution calls on the international community to resolve conflicts through inclusive dialogue and negotiation in order to ensure the strengthening of peace and trust in relations between UN member states as a value that promotes sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. Contrary to calls on the international community to resolve conflicts through inclusive dialogue and negotiation, Canada has decided to militarize the Arctic, citing the war in Ukraine as a major factor. In fact, much of the Arctic Circle is located in Russia, Canada, and Greenland. Last year the Canadian government affirmed that NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) will ensure Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic. However, NORAD, which is led by the United States and headquartered in Colorado Springs, is in power, while NATO is headquartered in Brussels. This decision by the federal government gives disproportionate control over the Canadian Arctic and threatens Inuit sovereignty and the balance of the already fragile Arctic ecosystem. The proposed militarization of the Canadian Arctic threatens to further weaken the ecosystem, which is being hit hard by climate change and melting ice. Dramatic changes in the Arctic, including an increase in wildfires, the greening of the Tundra and an increase in winter precipitation, are documented in the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2024 Arctic Report Card. The report notes a growing scientific consensus that melting Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, among other factors, may be slowing important ocean currents at both poles, with potentially dire consequences for a much colder northern Europe) and greater sea-level rise along the U.S. East Coast. Unfortunately, the Trump administration's plan to dismantle the nation's atmospheric research programs and could set U.S. forecasting back to dark age, warns hurricane, weather and ocean scientists. We cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice, is one of the bottom lines of the report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, which includes scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and WMO's Global Cryosphere Watch network. These new findings corroborate recent WMO State of the Global Climate and State of Global Water Resources reports which also have also highlighted the alarming melting affecting the cryosphere. A glacier is a large accumulation of mainly ice and snow, that originates on land and flows slowly through the influence of its own weight. Glaciers are found on every continent. They exist in many mountain regions and around the edges of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. There are more than 200 000 glaciers in the world, covering an area of around 700 000 km2 (RGI, 2023). Glaciers are considered as important water towers, storing about 158 000 km3 of freshwater (Farinotti et al., 2019). Glaciers are a source of life, providing freshwater to people, animals and plants alike. Okjkull (Icelandic pronunciation: [kjktl], Ok glacier) was a glacier in western Iceland on top of the shield volcano Ok.[2] Ok is located north-east of Reykjavik. The glacier was declared dead in 2014 by glaciologist Oddur Sigursson due to its loss of thickness. The plaque was installed on August 18, 2019,[5] with an inscription written by Andri Snr Magnason, titled A letter to the future, in Icelandic and English. The English version reads: Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it. Impact Glaciers and ice caps are critical for sustaining ecosystems and human livelihoods. They provide essential meltwater runoff during dry seasons, supporting drinking water, agriculture, industry, and clean energy production, making these frozen reservoirs vital for global water resources. Climate and cryosphere changes, however, are disrupting the water cycle, altering the amount and timing of glacier melt, causing knock-on impacts on water resource availability while also contributing to sea-level rise. As glaciers continue to shrink and snow cover diminishes, less water will be available for communities, particularly in seasonally dry regions. Increased competition for water resources is expected, with regions like China, India, and the Andes among the most vulnerable. Glaciers that have surpassed their "Peak Water" point-the stage at which meltwater runoff reaches its maximum-will gradually provide decreasing contributions to downstream water supplies, intensifying challenges for water security. Over the past century, despite representing only 0.5% of global land surface area, glaciers have contributed more to sea-level rise than the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Between 2000 and 2023, glaciers are estimated to have lost an average mass of approximately 273 billion tonnes per year, which is equivalent to approximately 0.75 mm per year of global sea-level rise (The GlaMBIE Team, 2025). The continuous retreat of glaciers signals the growing impacts of global warming and creates new hazards while intensifying existing ones. For example, melting glaciers are increasing the risk of hazards such as glacier lake outburst floods, ice avalanches and glacial debris flows, posing dangers to local and downstream communities. However, risk assessments are often not possible due to an absence of data (IPCC, 2019). Therefore, increased observation of the cryosphere is critical for effectively forecasting the impacts of cryosphere-related hazards. ___________________________________________ (1) Cryospheric: The cryosphere is an umbrella term for those portions of Earth's surface where water is in solid form. This includes sea ice, ice on lakes or rivers, snow, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground (which includes permafrost).
Canada Standard
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
International Year of Glaciers' Preservation: save the glaciers!
The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation to highlight the importance of glaciers and ensure that those relying on them, and those affected by cryospheric (1) processes, receive the necessary hydrological, meteorological, and climate services. Glaciers are crucial for regulating the global climate and providing freshwater, essential for billions of people. However, due to climate change, driven mainly by human activities since the 1800s, these vital resources are rapidly melting. The resolution calls on the international community to resolve conflicts through inclusive dialogue and negotiation in order to ensure the strengthening of peace and trust in relations between UN member states as a value that promotes sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. Contrary to calls on the international community to resolve conflicts through inclusive dialogue and negotiation, Canada has decided to militarize the Arctic, citing the war in Ukraine as a major factor. In fact, much of the Arctic Circle is located in Russia, Canada, and Greenland. Last year the Canadian government affirmed that NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) will ensure Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic. However, NORAD, which is led by the United States and headquartered in Colorado Springs, is in power, while NATO is headquartered in Brussels. This decision by the federal government gives disproportionate control over the Canadian Arctic and threatens Inuit sovereignty and the balance of the already fragile Arctic ecosystem. The proposed militarization of the Canadian Arctic threatens to further weaken the ecosystem, which is being hit hard by climate change and melting ice. Dramatic changes in the Arctic, including an increase in wildfires, the greening of the Tundra and an increase in winter precipitation, are documented in the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2024 Arctic Report Card. The report notes a growing scientific consensus that melting Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, among other factors, may be slowing important ocean currents at both poles, with potentially dire consequences for a much colder northern Europe) and greater sea-level rise along the U.S. East Coast. Unfortunately, the Trump administration's plan to dismantle the nation's atmospheric research programs and could set U.S. forecasting back to dark age, warns hurricane, weather and ocean scientists. We cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice, is one of the bottom lines of the report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, which includes scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and WMO's Global Cryosphere Watch network. These new findings corroborate recent WMO State of the Global Climate and State of Global Water Resources reports which also have also highlighted the alarming melting affecting the cryosphere. A glacier is a large accumulation of mainly ice and snow, that originates on land and flows slowly through the influence of its own weight. Glaciers are found on every continent. They exist in many mountain regions and around the edges of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. There are more than 200 000 glaciers in the world, covering an area of around 700 000 km2 (RGI, 2023). Glaciers are considered as important water towers, storing about 158 000 km3 of freshwater (Farinotti et al., 2019). Glaciers are a source of life, providing freshwater to people, animals and plants alike. Okjkull (Icelandic pronunciation: [kjktl], Ok glacier) was a glacier in western Iceland on top of the shield volcano Ok.[2] Ok is located north-east of Reykjavik. The glacier was declared dead in 2014 by glaciologist Oddur Sigursson due to its loss of thickness. The plaque was installed on August 18, 2019,[5] with an inscription written by Andri Snr Magnason, titled A letter to the future , in Icelandic and English. The English version reads: Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it. Impact Glaciers and ice caps are critical for sustaining ecosystems and human livelihoods. They provide essential meltwater runoff during dry seasons, supporting drinking water, agriculture, industry, and clean energy production, making these frozen reservoirs vital for global water resources. Climate and cryosphere changes, however, are disrupting the water cycle, altering the amount and timing of glacier melt, causing knock-on impacts on water resource availability while also contributing to sea-level rise. As glaciers continue to shrink and snow cover diminishes, less water will be available for communities, particularly in seasonally dry regions. Increased competition for water resources is expected, with regions like China, India, and the Andes among the most vulnerable. Glaciers that have surpassed their "Peak Water" point-the stage at which meltwater runoff reaches its maximum-will gradually provide decreasing contributions to downstream water supplies, intensifying challenges for water security. Over the past century, despite representing only 0.5% of global land surface area, glaciers have contributed more to sea-level rise than the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Between 2000 and 2023, glaciers are estimated to have lost an average mass of approximately 273 billion tonnes per year, which is equivalent to approximately 0.75 mm per year of global sea-level rise (The GlaMBIE Team, 2025). The continuous retreat of glaciers signals the growing impacts of global warming and creates new hazards while intensifying existing ones. For example, melting glaciers are increasing the risk of hazards such as glacier lake outburst floods, ice avalanches and glacial debris flows, posing dangers to local and downstream communities. However, risk assessments are often not possible due to an absence of data (IPCC, 2019). Therefore, increased observation of the cryosphere is critical for effectively forecasting the impacts of cryosphere-related hazards. ___________________________________________ Source: (1) Cryospheric : The cryosphere is an umbrella term for those portions of Earth's surface where water is in solid form. This includes sea ice, ice on lakes or rivers, snow, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground (which includes permafrost). Source: Pressenza
Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why Cloudbursts and Flash Floods matter for your UPSC exam
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up on your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today. (Relevance: In 2022, UPSC has asked a question: Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudbursts in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples. Questions related to climate events and climate-related reports have been UPSC favourites. In this regard, having a comprehensive understanding of this topic is important from the exam perspective.) Three bodies were recovered in Kangra on Thursday (26th June), taking the toll from flash floods triggered by cloudbursts to five, said officials. At least four cloudburst incidents were reported in Banjar, Gadsa, Manikaran, and Sainj of Kullu district, officials said. Given the heightened risk of floods, landslides, and cloudbursts following the active monsoon, the Himachal Pradesh Police Headquarters has issued an advisory. 1. A cloudburst is an extreme weather event. In simple words, it refers to intense rainfall occurring over a short duration within a small area. It is called an extreme weather event because the frequency of cloudbursts has increased due to global warming across the world. 2. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines it as unexpected precipitation exceeding 100mm (or 10 cm) per hour over a geographical region of approximately 20 to 30 square km. Significant amounts of rainfall such as this can result in floods. (Note: Basically, all instances of cloudbursts involve heavy rain in a short period, but all instances of heavy rain in a short period are not cloudbursts if they do not fit this criterion.) 3. The formation of clouds and even cloudbursts occur suddenly. Doppler radars (used to determine the velocity of an object) can predict heavy rainfall events up to two hours in advance but they cannot detect the velocity if a mountain obstructs the signal. Also, cloudbursts are not confined to one place. The conditions that trigger cloudbursts can develop quickly in one location and then move to another, making it difficult for early prediction. 4. Excessive or continuous rainfall over a period of days, or during particular seasons, can lead to stagnation of water and cause flooding. Flash floods refer to such a situation, but occurring in a much shorter span of time, and are highly localised. It commonly happens more where rivers are narrow and steep, so they flow more quickly 5. In India, flash floods are often associated with cloudbursts – sudden, intense rainfall in a short period of time. Himalayan states further face the challenge of overflowing glacial lakes, formed due to the melting of glaciers, and their numbers have been increasing in the last few years. To raise awareness about the significance of preserving glacier health in a warming world, the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. 6. Frequently, flash floods are accompanied by landslides, which are sudden movements of rock, boulders, earth or debris down a slope. It is common in mountainous terrains, where there are conditions created for it in terms of the soil, rock, geology and slope. 📍In the hill states like Himachal Pradesh, three main factors contribute to cloudbursts: first, the wind pattern; second, the height of the mountains; and third, the level of moisture and humidity in the air. 📍In the mountains, low-pressure areas form at the top, attracting clouds with significant force. Warm air creates thunderstorms. When air coming from the opposite direction collides with the mountain, it can result in a heavy downpour. This is why the height of the mountain matters in this scenario. The air cannot penetrate the mountain. 📍In these areas, sometimes saturated clouds ready to condense into rain cannot produce rain, due to the upward movement of the very warm current of air. Instead of falling downwards, raindrops are carried upwards by the air current. New drops are formed and existing raindrops increase in size. After a point, the raindrops become too heavy for the cloud to hold on to, and they drop down together in a quick flash. 1. According to the recently released State of Climate in Asia 2024 report, prepared by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with regional and international meteorological organisations. The report highlighted how changes in key climate indicators such as surface temperature, glacier mass and sea level will have major repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region 2. According to the report, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on record in 2024, with its average temperature 1.04 degree Celsius above the last 30-year average. Asia is warming up nearly twice as fast as the global average. 3. The impact of this high rate of warming in 2024 manifested through a range of extreme weather events such as 29 tropical cyclones, prolonged and intense heat waves and extreme rainfall events, including India. 4. In India, extreme heatwaves caused over 450 deaths across the country, the report said. During heatwaves in 2024, temperatures were in the range of 45-48 degree Celsius for sustained periods and touched a high of 50 degrees at some locations. The country also saw deadly lightning events, killing about 1,300 people, the report said. 5. Glaciers continued to lose mass, as per the report, with 23 out of 24 glaciers in the High Mountain Asia region of central-south Asia spanning Himalayas, Pamir mountains, Karakoram, Hindu Kush. The melting of glaciers affects sea level, regional water cycles and the occurrence of local hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). 6. In terms of extent, marine heatwaves created a record in 2024, impacting an area of nearly 15 million square kilometres. The northern Indian Ocean, adjacent to Japan and the Yellow and East China seas faced particularly severe or extreme intensity of marine heatwaves. Which of the following statements with regard to cloudburst is/are correct? (UPSC CDS 2017) 1. It is defined as sudden localized very heavy downpour with cloud thunder and lightning. 2. It mostly occurs in the hilly areas. 3. It results into very high intensity of rainfall, i.e., 250 mm-300 mm in a couple of hours. 4. It occurs only during the daytime. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1, 2, and 3 (b) 1, 3, and 4 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 2 only (Source: Asia warming nearly twice global average, hit hard in 2024: WMO, Explained: What are cloudbursts, and why they occur more in places like Amarnath, Explained: What are flash floods and why they may increase in the next few years, Find out how a radar can help prevent damage caused by cloudburst) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Hamilton Spectator
26-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Ice-age glaciers, mountain peaks, iconic wildlife: This is one of Canada's most adventurous — and undiscovered — national parks
Only in Canada is a travel series that acts as a love letter to the bucket-list destinations and experiences in our beautiful country. Look for more Only in Canada stories online at . The small plane glides across the blinding expanse of ice and snow-capped alpine peaks, revealing a frozen landscape dominated by deep glacial valleys and Canada's tallest mountains. For Sian Williams, president of Icefield Discovery Tours , a 'flightseeing' tour in Kluane National Park and Reserve is like travelling back in time to experience the Earth's last ice age. 'It's a life-changing experience, seeing those huge mountains rising out of the glacier,' she says. The Yukon's short yet intense summer and early fall, when the territory's warmer weather welcomes travellers under a golden midnight sun, are the perfect time to experience Kluane's extraordinary topography. Flightseeing over the mighty Kaskawulsh Glacier. Established in 1972, Kluane National Park and Reserve is part of the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, the Kluane First Nation and the White River First Nation. The landscape includes more than 2,000 glaciers, which make up the largest nonpolar ice field in the world. Kluane is also home to 17 of Canada's 20 tallest mountains, including its highest peak, Mount Logan, which touches the sky at 5,959 metres. 'These big mountains are completely hidden from the highway, so unless you do a long hiking trip, flying is the best way to see them,' notes Williams. Before the 1990s, pilots mainly carried glaciologists, scientists and mountaineers into the park. But over the past 35 years, there's been a steady rise in the popularity of flightseeing. 'It's really become a thing to do when you come to Kluane,' Williams says. P eaks of the St. Elias Mountains jut above the Kluane ice field. Travellers can climb aboard a small single-engine Helio Courier or a larger eight-passenger Pilatus Porter plane equipped with wheel-skis, taking off from a gravel landing strip and landing right on a frozen glacier. The change in topography and weather can be abrupt, but the awe-inspiring views are worth the thrill ride. Glaciers play a crucial role in our planet's climate, which is why the UN designated 2025 the 'International Year of Glaciers' Preservation' as an awareness-raising campaign. While the upper parts of Kluane's ice field are still accumulation zones, where snow builds and feeds the glaciers, they are thinning, Williams says. The Lowell Glacier no longer surges across the river to flood Haines Junction, and the retreat of the Kaskawulsh Glacier has accelerated since the 1950s. 'We are seeing climate change in action before our eyes,' says Williams. You can access Kluane's wonders even without taking to the skies. Hiking is the most popular activity in the park and reserve, which spans 22,000 square kilometres altogether. The writer looks out at Kathleen Lake from a classic Parks Canada red chair in Kluane National Park and Reserve. Backcountry hikers can trek into this wilderness from valley floors or plane drops, passing through stunning boreal forests and spectacular mountain ranges, and sharing the rugged terrain with some of Canada's most iconic wildlife. Large moose, grizzly and black bears, wolves, Dall sheep and herds of caribou roam various sections of the park. Trekkers can plan their own routes or book with experienced backcountry tour operators such as Terre Boréale , a family-owned, B Corp-certified company that has been leading small-group guided hiking and canoeing tours in the park since 2013. By flight, by foot or by watercraft, a visit to the land of Canada's tallest mountains is the height of adventure. Claudia Laroye travelled as a guest of Travel Yukon , which did not review or approve this article.
