As scientists declared 2023 the hottest year on record, researchers have made another disconcerting discovery: the amount of snow that remains on the ground is rapidly dwindling due to human-caused climate change. This trend threatens the water supply of hundreds of millions of people, according to a report published in the journal Nature.
Global warming, which hits high-mountain areas particularly hard, has already reduced snowpack in regions affecting up to 80 packs of the Northern Hemisphere’s population. This trend is expected to continue, with dire consequences.
The impact of a warming planet on snowpack extends far beyond ski resorts. Accumulated snow serves as a natural reservoir of fresh water, releasing its bounty as it melts in spring. With snowpacks shrinking, millions face the prospect of water scarcity.
Accurately gauging the impact of climate change on snowpack is deceptively difficult. Natural year-to-year variations and the complex interplay of temperature and precipitation make it challenging to discern clear trends. This explains why some regions experience increased snowfall while others see a decline.
Some of the consequences can be farfetched. One of these lesser-known effects of snowpack decline is its contribution to further warming. White snow reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere, while bare ground absorbs it. As snowpack shrinks, more sunlight is absorbed, accelerating the warming process and creating a vicious cycle.
Additionally, the transition from snow to rain could disrupt ecosystems, encourage the spread of pests, and increase the risk of wildfires.
The decline in snow is just one of several worrying trends observed in 2023. The year saw a record-breaking hot summer, leading to devastating wildfires, floods, and droughts worldwide. These extreme weather events have significant economic consequences, damaging infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods.
Studies predict substantial losses to the global economy due to climate change. Some estimates suggest a potential reduction of about 10 per cent in global GDP by 2100, considering events like the collapse of the Greenland ice shelf. Other models indicate that without mitigation efforts, average global incomes could be 23 per cent lower by the end of the century.
With time running out for mitigation, adaptation has become the only viable option. We must address these issues through tailored measures that cater to the specific needs of local communities and ecosystems.
But amidst the bleakness, there’s hope. We can adapt. Adaptation measures tailored to local needs and ecosystems can help communities weather the storm. Examples include training farmers in new agricultural techniques, implementing early warning systems for climate-induced crises, and small-scale infrastructure changes with immediate and long-term benefits.
The choice is ours: adapt or succumb. Learning from the fate of the Gigantopithecus, the largest primate ever known, which perished due to its inability to adapt to a changing environment, we must rise to the challenge. We can be wiser than the mighty beast, choosing to evolve and build a future resilient to the changing climate. The time for action is now, before the snow melts away, leaving behind a parched world thirsting for solutions.
