Business in Blatten: Glacier abort leads to chaos in the Lötschental!

Business in Blatten: Glacier abort leads to chaos in the Lötschental!

On Wednesday evening there was a dramatic event in Switzerland: a drop in a glacier in the Lötschental, canton of Valais, led to a degenerate from the small village. Jan Beutel, Professor of High Alpine Cryosphere at the University of Innsbruck, describes the causes of this clash and emphasizes that climate change causes profound changes in the high mountains. His assessments and that of his colleagues from permafrost research are alarming because they reflect the dangers that Alpine regions are increasingly exposed. According to [Econews] (https://oekonews.at/das-tauen-und-melzen-weld-werlich, the clue occurred at 3:24 p.m. and reached a strength of M = 3.1 on the judge's scale, which was with the Piz Cengalo event, which had a strength of m = 3.0, makes comparable.

The glaciers and the permafrost in the Alps are severely affected by global warming. Professor Beutel has participated in numerous research projects in the region in the past two decades and emphasizes that the decline in ice in the alpine cryosphere leads to increased erosion through wind and weather. This is done in particular in the northern slopes over 3,000 meters, where the rock becomes increasingly unstable. The permafrost thaws around 0.1 degrees Celsius per decade, which results in a loss of stability in the field of up to 80 percent. This phenomenon can have serious consequences at short notice, as the current catastrophe shows in Blatten

The background of the glacier abort

According to information from [Nachrichten.at] (https://www.nachrichten.at/panorama/weltspiegel/schweizer-permafroste-klimawandel-Ursäch- Glacier-BroCh ,T-von-Blatten ;art17.4056045), the rock wall was affected by the demolition, which was affected by the demolition, 500 meters high And was also in the permafrost zone. The instability of the rock and the glacier has intensified in recent years, especially since 2022. Around three million cubic meters of rock fell onto the glacier and accelerated the river, which finally led to his collapse. Professor Lambiel, a permafrosting expert, noted that he did not know of a similar landlord in the Alps.

The aging landscape does not only bring up the clocks. A comprehensive study by the WSL research program CCAMM has shown that climate change also increases other alpine natural hazards. The results, as reported on German climate portal, indicate an increase in stone slopes and Eislawines, while others such as snow. Low low altitudes go back. The forecasts of the IPCC affiliate report from 1990 have been true.

The challenges for the future

The prevailing climatic changes have great challenges for society in the Alpine region, especially more frequent and more intensive natural disasters. The decline in the glaciers is not only an aesthetic question, but also represents a real threat to the life of the people living there. Beutel warns that the thawing of the permafrost can cause uncontrolled outbursts and floods, since the clash of valley blocks valley.

Research must continue to develop suitable measures for risk minimization and to help the residents of the alpine regions. The environment is in change and we have to be prepared for what comes.