Scientists have warned that the melting of the world's glaciers due to climate change could release enormous amounts of bacteria, according to a report by BBC.
Scientists claim that among the thousands of bacteria that could escape into rivers and lakes are potentially dangerous pathogens.
This aerial picture taken on September 13, 2022 at Glacier 3000 resort above Les Diablerets shows the Tsanfleuron pass free of the ice that covered it for at least 2,000 years next to blankets covering snow from the last winter season to prevent it from melting. - The thick layer of ice that has covered a Swiss mountain pass between Scex Rouge glacier and Tsanfleuron glacier since at least the Roman era has melted away completely.
Urgent Action to Stop Global Warming
According to researchers from Aberystwyth University, their investigation showed how urgent action is required to stop global warming to prevent its harmful effects on humans and animals. Eight glaciers in Europe, North America, and two locations in Greenland were the subjects of their research on meltwater.
The vast, slowly flowing ice masses known as glaciers result from hundreds or thousands of years of formation. Sea levels are rising due to their alarming rate of melting due to the Earth's warming.
The research team found that over the next 80 years, more than 100,000 tons of microorganisms, such as bacteria, might be released into the environment. This is equivalent to all the cells in every human body.
The study, according to microbiologist Dr. Arwyn Edwards, highlighted for the first time the huge size of microorganisms present on Earth's surface or trapped inside its glaciers.
He said that the amount of microbes released is directly related to how quickly the glaciers melt as a result of the ongoing global warming.
The IPCC, a global group of climate experts, produced a "moderate" warming scenario on which the team's calculations are based. By 2100, this would cause an average global temperature increase of 2 to 3 C.
Read also: Greenland's Largest Ice is Melting at a Much Higher Rate, Prompting Rising Sea Level Concerns
A Threat to Water Quality
According to Dr. Edwards, water quality might be significantly impacted when bacteria flow into rivers, lakes, fjords, and oceans increases. But as the glaciers completely vanish, the microbial tap would be shut off within a few decades.
He further noted that 200,000 notable catchments worldwide are 200,000 notable catchments worldwide that get water from glacial melt, some of which are extremely fragile ecosystems with underdeveloped stores of organic carbon and nutrients.
He said that thousands of different microorganisms could be found living inside or developing on glaciers, some of which may be dangerous to people.
But glaciologist Dr. Tristram Irvine-Fynn told BBC that more investigations are still required.
"Over the coming decades, the forecast 'peak water' from Earth's mountain glaciers means we need to improve our understanding of the state and fate of these ecosystems," Irvine-Fynn said in a statement.
The research findings from the Aberystwyth scientists are published in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment this month.
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Written by Jace Dela Cruz
