Switzerland Records Worst Glacial Melt Rate
Facts
- A study released Wednesday by the Cryospheric Commission (CC) of the Swiss Academy of Sciences showed that Switzerland's glaciers lost a record-breaking 6% of their total volume this year due to a dry winter and summer heatwaves.
- According to Matthias Huss, head of the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network, a combination of factors, including light snow cover and dust drift from the Sahara desert, caused the glaciers to absorb more heat and thus melt more rapidly.
- According to the report, over six meters of ice melted on the Konkordiaplatz summit in the Great Aletsch Glacier near Italy, with small glaciers in east, southeast, and central Switzerland having "practically disappeared."
- The CC's report shows that three cubic kilometers of ice melted in the past 12 months — the equivalent of 3T liters of water — with Prof. Huss saying, "it's not possible to slow down the melting in the short term."
- The melting has reportedly led to unforeseen consequences, such as hikers in the Alps uncovering frozen bodies encased in the snow. Additionally, the melting of the glacier between Italy and Switzerland has reportedly moved the border, forcing the two countries into diplomatic discussions.
- The news comes as other parts of Europe also face glacial melting. According to the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, the ice sheet on the Southern Schneeferner in the Alps melted so much that it's no longer considered a glacier.
Sources: Citizen, Associated Press, Huffington Post, and DW.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by CNN. With the Swiss Alps experiencing twice the rate of warming compared to the global average, it's no surprise that heat waves and a lack of snowfall have melted away significant chunks of its glaciers. Now that the world has seen the devastating effects of rising temperatures, it's time to work on combatting climate change before it's too late.
- Narrative B, as provided by CEI. Modern-day doomsayers have predicted climate and environmental disasters for decades. None of the apocalyptic predictions have come true so far; why would this time be any different?