Swiss scientists aim to save Aletsch Glacier from melting

Swiss scientists have raised hopes for the future of the Great Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps. They believe that if global warming can be kept below two degrees Celsius, some ice could be preserved. However, they also warn that significant ice loss is already unavoidable. The Great Aletsch Glacier, which stretches 20 kilometers and weighs about 10 billion tons, is a popular tourist destination, attracting over a million visitors each year. People come to see it from the Junfraujoch viewing platform, which is 3,454 meters high. Matthias Huss, the director of Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, expressed concern that most glaciers might disappear. He hopes that the Aletsch Glacier can retain some of its ice due to its high elevation. Recent reports show that glaciers worldwide are melting faster than ever. The last three years recorded the greatest loss of glacial mass. If no actions are taken to combat climate change, the Aletsch Glacier's three main tributaries will disappear, leaving a valley behind. In a better scenario, where global warming is limited, the glacier could survive but would be shorter and thinner. This would also help reduce rising sea levels. Research suggests that glaciers above 3,000 meters could be preserved long-term if climate change is managed effectively. While the findings were released for the first World Day for Glaciers, the likelihood of each scenario is still uncertain. Experts indicate that the ultimate outcome might fall somewhere in between. Switzerland houses more than half of the Alps’ glaciers, and temperatures in the country are rising significantly faster than the global average. Since 2000, the volume of these glaciers has decreased by nearly 40 percent.