accelerated melting of glaciers worries scientists

At nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, it is a disturbing spectacle discovered by Austrian scientists. The objective of their expedition in the middle of the mountains, in Austria, is to see if the consequences of the record heat of this summer are already visible on the glaciers of Tyrol. For the team of scientists, it is obvious: in some places, there is no more snow or ice where there was supposed to be.

This time they have to walk an additional thirty minutes to finally reach the ice and take the first samples, as well as a battery of measurements. Everything quickly confirms their fears. “Last year, we were at 34.9, that’s 20 meters less”deplores Andreas Kellerer, scientist at the University of Graz (Austria). The unprecedented acceleration of the melting of Austrian glaciers has caused several impressive landslides in the Tyrol this summer.