Blog #4: Antarctic Glaciers and the Global Water Crisis

Antarctica is melting which is causing many problems; one is the rising of the ocean water. The sea water can pollute freshwater near towns and cities. The saltwater can get into the rivers, lakes, and soil. This would make the water undrinkable and unusable for farming. Clean drinking water is one of the basic needs of everyday life. Almost 635 million people live in these areas that are being affected by the sea level. Also melting glaciers can also affect the mountain regions where the glaciers provide water for several areas around the world. This would also have a large impact on the water supply to many people when the glacier finally melts up. The melting glaciers are one of the greatest challenges that the world has to deal with today.

Water is one of the factors that determine if a person is considered absolute poor. If people do not have water they do not have the basic needs to clean and feed themselves properly. Climate change is warming up the planet and causing the glaciers to melt. The water then mixes with the saltwater/ ocean and rises to the land. Salt water ruins the drinking water and the farm land. More and more people will become the definition of absolute poverty because of climate change and inadequate drinking water. People in the mountains, however, are not being affected by the rising sea level but they are instead being threatened by absolute poverty. Glacier water will eventually run out and many areas which depend on it will no longer have access to clean water.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/al-gore/antarctic-glaciers-and-th_b_1254304.html?ref=climate-change