Study: Nearly 70 percent of Glaciers Could Melt Away by 2100
2023-01-15
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1A new study has found that nearly 70 percent of the world's glaciers could disappear by the end of 2100.
2A group of international scientists recently reported the study in the publication Science.
3They said their predictions were based on current climate change developments.
4However, the researchers noted many glaciers can be saved if planet warming is reduced.
5The findings provide the most detailed examination yet of the world's 215,000 glaciers.
6The study considered four possible world temperature rises.
7 One is a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase in the average world temperature.
8A 2015 international treaty, called the Paris Agreement, established a targeted long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
9The agreement aims to limit the harmful effects of climate change on Earth.
10The study also considered possible temperature rises of 2, 3 and 4 degrees Celsius.
11Regine Hock is a professor of geophysics at the University of Oslo and University of Alaska Fairbanks.
12She was a co-writer of the study.
13She told the French news agency AFP, "Every degree increase produces more melt and loss."
14Hock added that if Earth's temperature can be reduced, glacier losses can also be limited.
15"In that sense, there is also a little bit of hope," she said.
16The study found that even if world temperature rise is limited to 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels, an estimated 49 percent of the world's glaciers would disappear by the year 2100.
17That amount of loss would represent about 26 percent of the world's total glacier mass.
18Current estimates suggest that if climate change keeps heading in the same direction, the world is set to have a 2.7 Celsius rise in temperature.
19That increase would cause nearly all glaciers in Central Europe, Western Canada, the continental United States and New Zealand to melt by 2100, the study found.
20If the world temperature rose as high as 4 degrees Celsius, large glaciers such as those in Alaska would be more affected and 83 percent of glaciers would melt away by the end of the century, the researchers predicted.
21The scientists noted that glacier loss would also worsen the problem of sea level rise.
22For example, the study found that warming of 1.5 degrees would lead to an average sea level rise of of nine centimeters.
23Temperatures of 4 degrees would cause 15 centimeters of sea level rise.
24The disappearance of glaciers will also affect water resources, the researchers said. Glaciers provide freshwater for about two billion people.
25The study's predictions were reached through observations of the size of each glacier over many years.
26The researchers also used computer simulations to arrive at the new findings.
27Hock noted that it is currently unclear whether the study's estimates will come true.
28But she said the extreme predictions do not mean that it is too late to reduce glacier loss through human actions.
29Hock urged policymakers around the world to take action now to prevent such glacier loss from happening.
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A new study has found that nearly 70 percent of the world's glaciers could disappear by the end of 2100. 2A group of international scientists recently reported the study in the publication Science. They said their predictions were based on current climate change developments. However, the researchers noted many glaciers can be saved if planet warming is reduced. 3The findings provide the most detailed examination yet of the world's 215,000 glaciers. 4The study considered four possible world temperature rises. One is a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase in the average world temperature. A 2015 international treaty, called the Paris Agreement, established a targeted long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement aims to limit the harmful effects of climate change on Earth. 5The study also considered possible temperature rises of 2, 3 and 4 degrees Celsius. 6Regine Hock is a professor of geophysics at the University of Oslo and University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was a co-writer of the study. She told the French news agency AFP, "Every degree increase produces more melt and loss." 7Hock added that if Earth's temperature can be reduced, glacier losses can also be limited. "In that sense, there is also a little bit of hope," she said. 8The study found that even if world temperature rise is limited to 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels, an estimated 49 percent of the world's glaciers would disappear by the year 2100. That amount of loss would represent about 26 percent of the world's total glacier mass. 9Current estimates suggest that if climate change keeps heading in the same direction, the world is set to have a 2.7 Celsius rise in temperature. That increase would cause nearly all glaciers in Central Europe, Western Canada, the continental United States and New Zealand to melt by 2100, the study found. 10If the world temperature rose as high as 4 degrees Celsius, large glaciers such as those in Alaska would be more affected and 83 percent of glaciers would melt away by the end of the century, the researchers predicted. 11The scientists noted that glacier loss would also worsen the problem of sea level rise. For example, the study found that warming of 1.5 degrees would lead to an average sea level rise of of nine centimeters. Temperatures of 4 degrees would cause 15 centimeters of sea level rise. 12The disappearance of glaciers will also affect water resources, the researchers said. Glaciers provide freshwater for about two billion people. 13The study's predictions were reached through observations of the size of each glacier over many years. The researchers also used computer simulations to arrive at the new findings. 14Hock noted that it is currently unclear whether the study's estimates will come true. But she said the extreme predictions do not mean that it is too late to reduce glacier loss through human actions. Hock urged policymakers around the world to take action now to prevent such glacier loss from happening. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 17____________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19glacier - n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land 20simulation - n. a creation of something that behaves or looks like something real but is not 21_____________________________________________________________________ 22What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 23Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.