How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.

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.