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Snow chaos in the Alps: climate change struck so strongly!
A study shows drastic decline in snow in the Alps of 34% until 2020, due to climate change.
Snow chaos in the Alps: climate change struck so strongly!
An alarming study, coordinated by Eurac Research in Bolzano, has documented a dramatic decline in snowfall in the Alps. Between 1920 and 2020 the snow fell by an astonishing third, as the research institution recently announced. In particular, the past five decades show a worrying acceptance that is closely linked to a temperature rise, study author Michele Bozzoli clarified. "The development of the fresh snow in the Alps is strongly negative," emphasized Bozzoli and illustrated that the declines are dramatic, especially at high altitudes below 2,000 meters and in south -facing areas such as Italy and Slovenia.
shorter snow seasons and less snow
Current research also shows that the snow season in the Alps is now considerably shorter compared to 50 years ago. According to a comprehensive analysis of over 2,000 measuring stations from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Slovenia, the middle snow depths have decreased by around 8.4 percent every decade since the 1970s. It is particularly worrying that snow cover has been reduced by 22 to 34 days below 2,000 meters. "That means a loss of a whole month of cozy winter idyll," says Michael Matiu, head of study at Eurac Research.
The results also illustrate that the snow is not only of central importance for winter tourism, but also crucial for water availability in spring. Without the meltwater flow from the melting snow cover, the water reserves could not be filled sustainably. These developments are direct consequences of climate change, since the rising temperatures make the snow cover melt faster and rainfall increasingly fall in the form of rain, even in higher locations, such as Br.de reported. The snow is not only indispensable for the Alpine Flora and Fauna, but also plays a crucial role in the hydropower and drinking water supply for the regions. The full study has been published in the “International Journal of Climatology” and provides essential data for future research projects.