Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of volume in last 2 years due to warming temperatures, experts say
FOX NewsOct 05, 2023
Report: Swiss Glaciers Melting at a Faster-Than-Average Rate in 2024
Above: Tourists watch the Rhone Glacier and its glacial lake due to the melting of the glacier, above Gletsch, Switzerland on Sept. 30, 2024. Image copyright: Fabrice Coffrini/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
According to the Switzerland-based glacier monitoring group, GLAMOS, the Nordic country's glaciers have melted at an above-average rate this year due to hot summer temperatures.
Another reason for this year's glacial melting, which GLAMOS said led to a record 2.5% reduction in volume, was dust originating from the Sahara Desert, which darkens the ice and thus inhibits its ability to reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere.
The Spin
Narrative A
Unfortunately, the issue surrounding glacial melting is a global one, with the world's glaciers reported to have shrunk by half since the late 1800s. While those melting in northern Europe are receiving much-deserved coverage, the most terrifying cases are occurring in Asia, where the loss of the Himalayan glaciers risks threatening billions of people with water shortages. These problems will only worsen if climate change isn't tackled on an international scale.
Narrative B
Climate alarmists mask the fact that glacial melt and growth are complex geophysical processes. In the Himalayas, for instance, many of the so-called "endangered" glaciers are growing, with others either remaining the same or melting at much slower rates. Reductionist climate alarmism leads downstream to bad environmental policies and even potential geopolitical tensions if nuances and scientific facts aren't portrayed accurately.