Scientists are worried about the acceleration of the melting of glaciers in Switzerland

03.10.2024/16/30 XNUMX:XNUMX    1

Record temperatures in the summer of 2024 have significantly accelerated the melting of glaciers in Switzerland, which will already exceed the average rate, causing concern among scientists.

Main theses:

  1. Record temperatures in the summer of 2024 caused accelerated melting of glaciers in Switzerland, which worries scientists.
  2. Scientists recorded record losses of ice across the country, which exceeded the average values ​​of the last decade.
  3. Dust from the Sahara and climate change are contributing to the accelerated melting of glaciers in Switzerland.
  4. Continued increases in greenhouse gas emissions could lead to the loss of more than 80% of the mass of the Alps' glaciers by 2100.
  5. Switzerland has come under criticism from Europe's top human rights court for not doing enough to combat climate change.
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What will be the consequences of accelerated melting of glaciers in Switzerland

It is noted that this year the melting of glaciers in Switzerland occurred with a higher than average intensity.

According to the GLAMOS monitoring resource, at the beginning of this year, scientists rejoiced at abundant winter and spring snowfall in the Alps.

It was hoped that this would help stop significant multi-year migrations or even halt ice loss.

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However, already in August, scientists recorded record losses of ice throughout Switzerland.

The record volume of glacier retreat in Switzerland is worrying scientists
Melting glaciers in Switzerland



This summer month, the average temperature was several degrees above zero even at the Jungfraujoch station at an altitude of 3571 meters, located above the Aleč Glacier.

What threatens the Swiss Alps with the further melting of glaciers

GLAMOS analysts emphasize that Swiss glaciers have lost 2,5% of their volume this year, which is higher than the average during the last decade.

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My concern is that despite a perfect year for the glaciers, with plenty of snow in the winter and a rather cool and wet spring, it still wasn't enough. If the trend we have seen this year continues, it will be a disaster for Swiss glaciers, warns GLAMOS director Matthias Huss.

One of the factors that led to the acceleration of the melting of glaciers was dust from the Sahara. In particular, the ice cover under the layer of this dust acquires a brown or pink tint, which reduces its ability to reflect sunlight.

Photos posted by Huss on social media show muddy streams running through ice sheets so thin that rocks and gravel can be seen through.

More than half of the glaciers in the Alps are in Switzerland, where climate change is causing temperatures to rise at about twice the global average. Last week, the Swiss government approved a review of sections of its border with Italy, as melting ice ridges between the two countries changed the watersheds that fix the border, the publication said.

If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, the Alps' glaciers are expected to lose more than 80% of their current mass by 2100.

Earlier this year, Europe's top human rights court ruled that Switzerland is not doing enough to curb the effects of climate change. The Swiss government denies this, the publication says.