Loosely defined, ice caps are masses of ice covering large areas of land. Glaciers are an example. The polar ice caps are also often placed in the category, even though they are found over water. In any case, large masses of ice of both types (and others) form a substantial part of the earth’s surface. Together, they account for a volume of over 30 million cubic kilometers.

Given their huge combined mass, these chunks of solid water affect the earth’s climate and atmosphere hugely. Melting of ice caps is perhaps the most widely recognized and deeply feared effect of Climate Change. A range of agencies—from IPCC to Hollywood—have helped us paint a picture of what that could look like: rising sea levels overflowing through small island nations and thriving coastal cities. 

Watch Connecting Delta Cities

The award winning documentary ‘Connecting Delta Cities’ highlights possible scenarios for four major coastal urban centers, by investigating specific questions: How will rising sea levels affect Alexandria? Are people in the New York Metro really safe? What about Jakarta, a city that is sinking at the rate of 25 cm every year? Is Rotterdam resting on its laurels, trusting its storm surge barrier, or is it planning for the future?

This collection of videos from small island nations reveals how they lie at the frontline of global warming and sea-level rise. Understandably, climate change lies at the core of their domestic policies and diplomatic positions.  

Ice caps on land are valued as vast reserves of water. For example, rivers originating from the Himalayan glaciers meet the freshwater needs of the world’s population. The Pamir mountain glaciers supply to more than 50% of all freshwater resources in the Aral Sea basin.

This links ice caps inextricably to most aspects of human well-being: agriculture, livelihoods, food security, sanitation, ecosystems, biodiversity, culture and traditions… to name a few. Here are some videos that demonstrate how shrinking of glaciers have affected a variety of communities -- farmers, fishermen, pastoralists, hotel owners, tourism workers, villages, towns and cities… --- that depend on them.

Peru- Retreating Glaciers
Pamiri Women and the Melting Glaciers of Tajikistan
Nepal- Melting Glaciers
Tibetan Plateau- Green Glaciers: The Melting Grasslands
Japan- Tourism Meltdown: Climate Change Causes Drift Ice Loss

Explorer Eric Larsen recognized this and went a step further. In 2009, he journeyed to the top, bottom and the roof of the world (North Pole, South Pole and Mount Everest) to raise awareness about the importance of ice caps and the need to protect them. Larsen captured his unique expedition on camera. The movie makes for a an engaging visual experience through snow, ice, freezing winds, avalanches and landscapes of unending white. Watch the trailer on TheWaterChannel.

Many of us live far away from the nearest ice cap, and experience ice/snow only when we travel, read books or watch TV. But we would do well to remember the great extent to which they affect our well-being. And, equally importantly, the extent to which our lifestyles could affect theirs.

(PostScript: For those more interested in the icy part of the earth’s surface, The Cryosphere Today is a great resource. Developed by the University of Illinois’s Polar Research Group, it offers maps, historical data sets, images, animations and smartphone apps related to polar ice, glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost and much more.)