The Swiss Alpine Glaciers

If the current weather trends continue the glaciers in the Swiss alps will be completely gone by 2050.

The largest Swiss alpine glaciers, the Aletsch, has receded more than 2 kilometers over the course of the 20th century. 

                                         The Aletsch is the largest glacier in the Swiss Alps. Due to recent                                                      weather trends the glacier is rapidly melting. If the glacier melts, it                                                  could cause major flooding to the surrounding towns. 

Roland Psenner, a fresh water scientist at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, says that about 3 percent of the glaciers ice is lost each year. According to National Geographic, in 2003 and 2006, the glaciers lost a total of 17 percent of its ice. 

This is a troubling trend to the residents who rely on the glaciers for natural lakes.

Another dangerous event is taking shape as the glaciers melt and its not just flooding. The permafrost, which acts as a glue to hold the mass of the mountains together, is failing; as a result large chunks of the mountain is falling apart.

The Ice from the glacier provides pressure on the mountain. Without that pressure, large pieces begin to fall.

                                         This chart shows the annual mass loss to the alpine glaciers due to                                                  global warming. The glaciers are rapidly disappearing, causing large                                              pieces of mountain to fall apart and roll down the mountain.

                                          The Feegletscher or Fairy Glacier. Signs of melting snow show a grim                                              picture of the future of the glacier. What was once full of fluffy                                                        white is not missing large chunks of snow.

Pictures courtesy of: 

http://icons.wxug.com/hurricane/chrisburt/alpinegraph.jpg

                                                                              http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Aletschgletscher_mit_Pinus_cembra2.jpg

http://phys.org/news/2013-09-trail-swiss-glacier-climate-action.html

Sources:

http://travel.aol.co.uk/2012/07/26/worlds-most-endangered-destinations-places-amazon-venice-dead-sea-sumatra/#!slide=aol_1245723

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070123-alps-glaciers.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/30/world/europe/in-swiss-alps-glacial-melting-unglues-mountains.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://phys.org/news/2013-09-trail-swiss-glacier-climate-action.html