Mt.Everest - 'The Third Pole' is melting due to air pollution

Glaciers of Mt. Everest

We all know the importance of maintaining a life-supporting environment but still the environment is undergoing constant changes. Population growth in the recent times has resulted in a number of environmental problems. One such problem is air pollution. We all are contributing to air pollution, activities from cooking at home to the working of highly mechanized industries contribute to air pollution. 

Some major air pollutants are:-

Pollutant	Source	Harmful effect
Carbon compounds (CO and CO2)	Automobile exhausts, burning of wood and coal	Respiratory problems, Green house effect
Sulphur compounds (SO2 and H2S)	Power plants and refineries, Volcanic eruptions	Respiratory problems in humans, Loss of chlorophyll in plants, Acid rain on dissolving with water
Nitrogen compounds (NO and N2O)	Motor vehicle exhaust, atmospheric reaction	Irritation in eyes and lungs, Low productivity in plants, Acid rain damages material (metals and stones)
Hydrocarbons (benzene, ethylene)	Automobiles and petroleum industries	Respiratory problems, Cancer-causing properties
SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter), (Any solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, (fly ash, dust, lead)	Thermal power plants, construction activities, metallurgical processes, and automobiles	Poor visibility, breathing problems, Lead interferes with the development of red blood cells, causes lung diseases and cancer, Smog (smoke+fog) formation leads to poor visibility and aggravates asthma in patients
Fibers (Cotton, wool)	Textile and carpet weaving industries	Lung disorders

What is the Third Pole?

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan region spans an area of more than 4.3 million square kilometers in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Apart from north and south pole, this region stores more snow and ice and that's how it got its name: ’The Third Pole‘.

Who is causing threat to the Third Pole?

India and China being world's top two populated countries are causing enough air pollution that is melting the glaciers of Mt. Everest. Most of the pollution is caused by burning of fossil fuels, which is by the way running most of the economic activities of these two nation. When fuel is burned it release black carbon particle in the air, now these tiny carbon particles absorbs sunlight and emits heat causing regional warming. When these particles deposit on the ice surface, they force the ice to melt.

How is it going to affect the ecosystem?

The Indus river system, the Ganga river and the Brahmaputra are fed throughout the year by the snow and glaciers of the Himalayas. Hence being an Indian, we know the importance of these rivers. Now imagine if the source of these rivers are getting polluted, how big of a consequence would it be for the person at the receiving end. Rivers are the lifeline of a nation, we have to be mindful about their existence.