As the international community marks World Water Day 2025 on March 22nd under the theme 'Water and Climate Change: Protecting Glaciers,' it is essential to consider the importance of glaciers for sustaining life since these icy reserves act as crucial reservoirs of fresh water.
The purpose of the anniversary is to highlight the issue faced by the 2.2 billion individuals globally who lack access to clean water.
According to usgs.gov, "a glacier is a substantial, long-lasting assembly of crystallized ice, snow, rocks, sediments, and frequently liquid water that forms on land and migrates downhill due to its own mass and gravitational forces."
Although glaciers hold 75 percent of Earth's fresh water, they've contributed to replenishing this resource via rivers and lakes. Consequently, it's crucial for humans to maintain a steady availability of fresh water. Doing so will secure sustainable living conditions as well as dependable sources of water for farming, manufacturing, and daily use.
Glaciers are massive, sluggish masses of ice created by the accumulation of snow over time, playing a vital role in storing fresh water, regulating climate, and serving as key indicators of environmental changes.
The Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets are considered the biggest ice masses on our planet, whereas other glaciers can be found primarily in mountainous areas and close to the poles.
The biggest individual glaciers are located in Antarctica according to the global scale. Additionally, as mentioned by worldwildlife.org, sea ice exclusively develops and disappears within oceans, contrasting with glaciers which form on landmasses. Icebergs consist of pieces of glacial ice that detach from these glaciers and drop into the seas.
Glaciers bounce back sunlight and play a crucial role in maintaining global temperature balances. They also support distinct and vulnerable ecological systems, hosting numerous varieties of plants and animals.
Nevertheless, the increase in temperatures exacerbated by climate change has put these glaciers under significant stress, leading to a rise in sea levels.
The outcome has consistently posed a significant risk to numerous settlements, natural habitats, and economic activities situated near coastlines. Water surges from oceans and seas flowing back into smaller aquatic systems have submerged these coastal regions and made them more susceptible to freshwater shortages.
Global warming has caused a significant effect called 'retreating glaciers,' happening at an unparalleled pace since the 1970s. What’s particularly concerning is that some glaciers have vanished completely.
According to Google, "Climate change has led to the complete disappearance of several glaciers, such as the Okjökull Glacier in Iceland, which was formally declared extinct in 2019, and the Chacaltaya Glacier in the Andes."
Nigeria must address this year’s theme with significant measures. Despite lacking glaciers within its borders, the country requires substantial amounts of freshwater each day to support its more than 230 million inhabitants.
Additionally, the ecosystems, agricultural practices, and human activities reliant on fresh water sources near Nigeria are facing significant threats.
Nigeria needs to establish sustainable methods for conserving freshwater resources. Simply allowing the government to waver over whether water should be managed as a public service or a commercial enterprise is insufficient.
The absence of safe public drinking water led to the popularity of sachet water, commonly referred to as 'pure water.' Both the sachet form and its bottled counterpart are sold at exorbitant prices.
As a result of climate change, Nigeria’s shoreline has been subjected to severe inundation. Flooding events happen frequently, resulting in multiple areas being submerged under water.
Nigeria has not managed to establish dependable systems for draining floodwaters, leading to soil erosion and various dangers to the ecosystem.
Cutting-edge farming techniques like aquaponics are increasingly sought after globally. The river systems established several decades ago are not operating at their maximum potential efficiency.
Consequently, food products tend to be pricier at specific points throughout the year. The constant conflict between herders and farmers is predominantly attributed to the lack of water during the dry season.
The nation ought to adopt continuous farming techniques along with irrigation systems to guarantee an ample supply of water.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
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