According to experts, the glacier collapsed due to an exceptionally hot summer and the impact of climate change.
According to experts, the collapse of the glacier in the Italian Alps on Sunday is the result of several climate factors.
Glaciologist working at the Austrian Academy of Sciences Andrea Fischer says in an interview with the Austrian broadcasting company ORF that the mountains have already experienced a two-decade long period of very rapid melting.
– Last winter, especially in the south, there was very little snow and the snow cover has receded. Strong melting has caused flooding, and due to the combined effect of climate and weather, cavities are formed under the ice, which are filled with water.
Experts emphasize the unpredictability of what happened. According to Fisher, history does not know a similar avalanche, so even the most experienced alpinists have not learned to recognize the danger that lurks under the ice cover.
Helle triggered an avalanche
Heat is considered to be the factor that triggered the avalanche, which caused the temperature to rise to ten degrees even up in the mountains. Temperatures of up to 24 degrees have been measured below.
The peak of Marmolada rises to 3,300 meters.
– The weather has gone completely crazy, especially below an altitude of 3,500 meters, describes the researcher Renato Coluzzi from the Italian Institute of Polar Sciences. – This is due to the “new climate”, and unfortunately such situations will be repeated in the coming years, he adds, according to AP.
The disaster started without warning
Natural upheaval was the fate of hikers on the mountain. The number of those killed is now counted at seven, but it is feared that more victims will be found during the search. At least 13 are still missing. ** **
When the avalanche started, a mass of ice and rock the size of an apartment building rumbled down the slope. The destruction progressed at a speed of up to three hundred kilometers per hour.
Those on the slope had no chance to escape. News agency AP reports that a climber had sent a smiling selfie to his brother just before the disaster.
The hot air has taken over the mountains exceptionally early. Professor at Roma Tre University Massimo Frezzotti said in an interview with the news agency AFP that the current state of the glacier is such that one could imagine seeing something similar only in mid-August, not at the beginning of July.
The destruction is feared to continue
It is feared that the phenomenon will repeat itself. Researcher specializing in glaciers Renato Colucci reminds that the temperature in the Alps has been much above normal for weeks.
The danger is not limited to the Italian Alps. France’s Mont Blanc is affected by climate change, and Austrian researcher Ficsher predicts that an avalanche like the Marmolada accident could happen in the eastern parts of the Alps at any time.
– As this very warm summer continues, we are in a situation that was previously only at the end of hot summers.
Prime Minister Draghi warned about climate change
The Prime Minister of Italy visited the accident site Mario Draghi called for action to prevent the recurrence of accidents. called for action to prevent accidents from happening again.
– This drama could not have been predicted, said Draghi, who saw the effect of climate change in the background: – The event is connected to the state of the environment and climate, he said according to news agency AP.
The Marmolada glacier has been shrinking for decades. It is predicted to disappear completely in 25–30 years.
– In winter, the situation is better again when the melting season is over, says glacier researcher Andrea Fischer – But next summer this will happen again, and it will be like this for decades.