The glaciers reflect back 70 percent of the solar radiation, absorbing only about 30 percent. Conversely, the oceans reflect back only 30 percent but absorb 70 percent. The greenhouse gases produced as a result of burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal thicken the atmospheric ring around our earth. This thickened ring does not allow the reflected solar radiation to escape back into the atmosphere and traps them close to the earth, adding further to the global warming. As the glaciers melt more rapidly because of global warming, the area reflecting back solar radiation is decreasing and the area absorbing solar radiation increasing. A vicious cycle is set up. The only way out is having cleaner energy. And it can't be any clear than hydel power, which is not just the cleanest but also the cheapest. A country blessed with so many rivers as Pakistan must strive for a 70:30 hydel to thermal ratio as against the 30:70 we have at present. -KHURSHID ANWER, Lahore, May 25