Greenland’s Lakes Transform Due to Extreme Weather
(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained- Page No. – 17)
Topic: GS3 – Environment |
Context |
● A recent study highlights how over 7,500 lakes in western Greenland have turned brown, emitted carbon, and suffered a drop in water quality due to extreme weather events in 2022. |
Analysis of the news:
Rapid Transformation of Greenland’s Lakes
- These lakes, once pristine, play a crucial role in providing drinking water, supporting biodiversity, and acting as carbon sinks.
- The transformation, which typically takes centuries, occurred within months—an unprecedented rate of change.
What Triggered the Change?
- In 2022, warmer temperatures caused rainfall instead of snowfall, leading to permafrost thawing.
- As a result, organic carbon, iron, and minerals were released into the lakes.
- This process was driven by atmospheric rivers—long, narrow air currents carrying moisture—that intensified due to climate change.
- Scientific models predict a 50–290% increase in atmospheric rivers by the end of the 21st century, particularly affecting Greenland, North America, East Asia, Western Europe, and Antarctica.
Consequences of the Extreme Weather Events
The lakes underwent drastic physical, chemical, and biological changes:
- Water quality deterioration – The release of organic matter altered taste, odour, and clarity, making drinking water unsafe.
- Increased carbon emissions – The lakes, once carbon sinks, saw emissions rise by 350% due to reduced phytoplankton activity and increased organic matter breakdown.
- Disrupted ecosystems – Reduced sunlight penetration affected phytoplankton, limiting photosynthesis-based carbon absorption.
Why This Matters for Climate Change
- The study follows another alarming finding that land-based carbon absorption in 2023 hit its lowest level since 2003.
- Natural carbon sinks—forests, soil, and oceans—absorb half of human emissions, but as they weaken or turn into carbon sources, atmospheric carbon levels will surge, worsening global warming.
- The Greenland lake crisis serves as a stark warning of accelerating climate shifts and the urgent need for mitigation strategies.
About Greenland |
● It is the world’s largest (non-continent) island located between the continents of North America and Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean.
● It is geographically considered a part of the North American continent. ● It is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north; by the Greenland Sea to the east; by the North Atlantic Ocean to the southeast; Davis Strait to the southwest and Baffin Bay to the west. ● Greenland was once a Danish colony and is now an autonomous province of Denmark. ● Climate: Greenland is in the polar zone, where winter temperatures reach as low as -50°C and summer temperatures rarely exceed 10–15°C. Due its size, however, temperatures can vary considerably from one part of the country to another. ● Highest Point: Gunnbjorn’s Fjeld ● Capital: Nuuk |
Practice Question: The transformation of Greenland’s lakes due to extreme weather events in 2022 highlights the impact of climate change on natural carbon sinks. Discuss the causes, consequences, and global implications of such abrupt environmental changes. (150 Words /10 marks) |
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