Renewable energy... not so renewable anymore?

[Kyle Alpert]

Currently hydro-energy, energy derived from moving water, is the most common source of renewable energy on earth. Many places rely on running water for light and heat. But with glaciers all over the world disappearing fast, are we going to have as much moving water as before? The melting of snow deposits in the summer causes water to rush down from the mountains, going through dams and creating a lot of energy. But after our glaciers have disappeared, there will be a severe drop in water flowing down. This in turn will cause us to rely more on burning fossil fuels and releasing more carbon dioxide, which will then cause ice to melt even more rapidly. It's a vicious cycle. So it's not looking too great on the renewable energy front! Perhaps we'll have better luck with wind...