Alps May Lose 75% Of Glacial Cover By 2100 - BBC

[hatrack]

Europe's Alps could lose three-quarters of their glaciers to climate change during the coming century.

That is the conclusion of new research from the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) in Zurich. Scientists base their conclusion on forecasts of temperature and precipitation changes in a new computer model of Alpine glaciation. Glaciers are crucial in providing fresh drinking water, and are also key for tourism, irrigation and hydro-power.

There is already strong evidence of a major ongoing melt. In the 1850s, according to WGMS data presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) annual meeting in Vienna, nearly 4,474 sq km of the Alps were glaciated. By the 1970s, the area covered had fallen to just under 2,903 sq km, and in 2000, it was down to 2,272 sq km.

"From 1850 to the 1970s, there is an average loss of 2.9% per decade," WGMC's Michael Zemp told EGU delegates. "From the 1970s until 2000 it is 8.2% per decade, and we see most of that increase since 1985," he said.

EDIT

According to the OCCC, a national Swiss scientific grouping, summers are likely to get warmer by about 3C before the end of the century, and precipitation is likely to increase by about 10%. "The summer temperature increase is 3C, which is very bad for glaciers," Dr Zemp told the BBC News website, "and the annual precipitation increases, which creates a bit better conditions for glaciers. "You get a rise of 340m in the level that enables glaciation."

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4874224.stm

[phantom power]

1. I say it will all be gone by 2050. Maybe sooner.

Either that, or the entire northern hemisphere will be glaciated. yeah. One or the other.

[Dead_Parrot]

2. Or both...

Sod's law says it will melt completley, everyone will sell their skis and snowploughs, and then it will be glaciated...

[phantom power]

3. Chaos. It's hard to plan for!

[Dead_Parrot]

4. I've decided to get...

scuba gear, skis, a camel, a kayak, a machete, and a fireproof suit.

At which point, my area of NZ will be unaffected by anything and I'll look a complete arse. But I'll always have something for fancy dress.

[blackhorse]

5. Right On.

Whatever happens, it won't take until 2100 to occur. More climate spin, but then, the BBC belongs to Blair's government. Can't expect much from them.

BH