Endangered Mountains — A Silent Crisis
Mountains are precious and a healthy resource. They contributes to the diverse climates and weather conditions observed across different regions. The massive weight of mountains influences the balance of the Earth’s crust, affecting geological activities such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In terms of topography, mountains contribute to the Earth’s varied landscape, offering unique ecosystems that support a wide range of flora and fauna. Furthermore, mountains are vital for water cycles, supporting life in downstream regions.
How Mountains Are Losing ?
Human activities can indeed contribute to the diminishing of mountains, although this occurs over extended periods and through various indirect mechanisms rather than immediate, large-scale reductions in their height or mass. The processes through which human actions can lead to the diminishment of mountains include:
Erosion Acceleration
Activities such as deforestation, agriculture, and construction can significantly accelerate erosion. Over time, this can lead to a gradual lowering of mountain slopes and valleys.
Mining and Quarrying
Mining and quarrying activities physically remove parts of mountains to extract minerals, coal, and other resources. This not only changes the landscape but can also lead to a reduction in the physical size of mountains over time.
Infrastructure Development
The construction of roads, buildings, and other infrastructure often requires cutting through mountains and hillsides, which can lead to their physical diminishment. Large-scale engineering projects, such as the creation of tunnels and dams, also change the natural landscape of mountainous areas.
Climate Change
Perhaps the most significant long-term impact on mountains is from climate change. Climate change is causing the rapid melting of glaciers and ice caps atop mountains worldwide, leading to a reduction in their height and mass.
Water Erosion and Sedimentation
The alteration of natural water flows through dam construction and water diversion for agriculture can lead to increased erosion and sedimentation. This not only affects the mountains themselves but can also change the landscape in the areas surrounding them.
Major Mountain Ranges Of The World
The Himalayas
Often referred to as the "Third Pole" because of its extensive ice fields, the Himalayas are experiencing rapid glacier melt due to global warming. If the Himalayas lose significant volume, particularly from their glaciers melting, the consequences would be profound and far-reaching, affecting millions of people across several countries.
A comprehensive report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in 2019 highlighted that if global warming continues at its current pace, the Himalayas could lose more than 80 % of their total glacier volume by the end of the 21st century.
The glaciers are a crucial source for ten of the world’s major river systems, such as the Ganges, Indus, Yellow, Mekong, and Irrawaddy, providing essential resources like food, energy, clean air, and income to billions of people, either directly or indirectly.
The Alps
Europe’s Alps are similarly affected by rising temperatures, leading to significant glacier retreat. The Alps, stretching across eight countries in Europe, are a crucial source of water, biodiversity, and economic activity.
Studies have shown that the Alpine glaciers could lose up to 90% of their volume by the end of the century if current warming trends continue.
The Andes
The Andes mountain range in South America is witnessing glacier retreat across its length, from Venezuela to Patagonia. For example, glaciers in the tropical Andes, including those in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, have been observed to melt particularly quickly. Some studies suggest that glaciers in these regions have lost more than 20% of their volume in the last few decades.
The Rockies
In North America, the Rocky Mountains are experiencing both glacier melt and increased erosion due to human activity, including mining and the extraction of oil and gas. These activities not only affect the physical structure of the mountains but also lead to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.
The Appalachian Mountains
While not facing the same level of glacier melt due to their lower elevations, the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States are subject to extensive mining, particularly mountaintop removal mining, which directly reduces their height and alters their topography.
The Arctic Cordillera
This range in the Canadian Arctic is experiencing some of the most rapid temperature increases on the planet, leading to glacier melt and permafrost thaw. These changes threaten to reshape the landscape of these remote mountains.
