Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Glacier collapse buries most of Swiss village
Global warming is melting ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, raising
sea levels around the world. Rising sea levels are posing a significant threat
to coastal areas, especially in tropical and subtropical river deltas,
low-lying islands, and densely populated coastal zones. Warming temperatures
are also melting snow, ice, and glaciers in arctic regions and mountains at an
unprecedented pace. Blatten is a small mountain valley village in Switzerland
with a population of around 300. On May 28, approximately 90% of Blatten was
lost under a landslide triggered by the collapse of the Birch glacier. Debris
destroyed large parts of the village, and ice, earth, and rock partially
blocked the Lonza River. Thanks to prior warning, all the residents but one had
evacuated from the village safely before the glacier collapsed. Glaciologists
have been monitoring melting glaciers and permafrost and warning some other
alpine towns and villages of such incidents. Since the glacier is unstable,
many of the residents of Blatten may never be able to return to their homes.
Read the article and learn what global warming could do to an alpine
village.
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