The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region?

Theme

T38 Glaciers, cryosphere & sea-level rise

What UPSC asks in this theme

A heavily repeated theme: melting Himalayan glaciers and water resources, Arctic vs Antarctic melting effects, cryosphere and global climate, sea-level rise threatening island nations, and IPCC projections for India.

What to cover

• Himalayan glacier retreat and river flows
• Arctic sea ice vs Antarctic land ice: different effects
• Cryosphere and albedo feedback
• Sea-level rise: small island states, Indian coasts, Indian Ocean region
• IPCC findings

Writing the answer

• Link physical change → human impact → adaptation

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 6 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.