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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
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