· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Austrian glaciers, particularly around Salzburg, are rapidly melting, with some potentially disappearing within the next 10 to 15 years
• Glaciologist Bernhard Zagel reports that the glaciers have lost half their ice in the last 25 years, with the rate of melt accelerating due to prolonged sunshine
🔭 The context: Despite heavy snowfall in the Tauern mountains, glaciers continue to shrink, even at altitudes above 2,700 meters
• The Stubacher Sonnblickkees glacier has lost 45 million cubic meters of ice since the late 1990s, a stark indicator of how global warming is impacting high-altitude regions
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Glacier loss threatens ecosystems, water supplies, and the stability of mountain landscapes
• These rapid changes are direct consequences of climate change, underscoring the urgent need for global efforts to mitigate rising temperatures
⏭️ What's next: If current trends continue, many of Austria’s iconic glaciers could vanish within a decade, leaving behind only small patches of ice
• This would dramatically alter the landscape and local climate
💬 One quote: “I assume that in ten years you won’t be able to see a glacier anymore.” — Bernhard Zagel, University of Salzburg
📈 One stat: The Stubacher Sonnblickkees glacier has lost 45 million cubic meters of ice over the past 25 years, representing half of its total mass
Click for more news covering the latest on climate change
