Glacier's rupture explained - further splits predicted for more ice masses.
Catastrophic Landslide in Blatten, Switzerland: The Aftermath of a Glacier Collapse
Blatten, Switzerland - A devastating landslide resulting from a glacier collapse has engulfed the entire village of Blatten. The region, monitored for over three decades, is now the focus of a thorough investigation.
The Causal Chain: How the Glacial Rupture Unfolded
The disaster, foreseeable in hindsight, was a culmination of years of geological shifts. Jens Turowski, a geomorphologist at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, explains:
From the beginning of last week, shifts in rock masses on the Kleine Nesthorn mountain amounted to as much as three meters in just one to two days - an unusually swift process. The rapid movement triggered a series of landslides, with a total of three million cubic meters of rock tumbling onto the Birch glacier. This immense weight equaled nine million tons.
This pressure compressed the glacial ice, causing it to bulge at the snout. To visualize this, imagine a soft block of butter lying on a slope. When you press down on top, it bulges out at the bottom.
A portion of the glacier eventually broke off on Wednesday and inexorably slid down onto the village, bringing most of the dislodged rock with it.
Catalysts and Chronic Developments
Landslides of this caliber don't happen suddenly. As Turowski explains, the process unfolds over decades, centuries, or even millennia.
At first, there are ongoing weathering processes and the propagation of cracks in the rock. The specific triggers behind this disaster, however, are still elusive.
Initial possibilities include the melting of the permafrost, which acts as a bonding agent. When warmer temperatures melt it, its mechanical stability is diminished, and its adhesive properties vanish entirely.
The second hypothesis revolves around meltwater seepage into the rock, resulting in the formation of pressure within pores or fissures, which ultimately weakens the rock structure. Nevertheless, the event was likely instigated by the confluence of several factors rather than a single catalyst.
Climate Change and Its Role
According to Turowski, these incidents have always occurred throughout history and are beyond our control to prevent. Proactive measures, he insists, can only be taken to prepare for such disasters. He also maintains that he isn't aware of any research proving a direct statistical correlation between climate change and a surge in these massive events.
Still, it is plausible to assume that climate change plays a part in the triggers. Significant factors include alterations in snowfall and melt patterns, changes in temperature, and melting glaciers - all of which deplete structural support for the mountain slopes.
A Look to the Future: Will Such Events Become More Frequent?
Under conditions favorable for such events and exacerbated by climate change, the frequency of these disasters may increase in high-altitude regions. However, Turowski stresses that there is no conclusive statistical evidence to support this claim. In all other instances of mass movements, except for similar landslides, there is evidence of a recent increase.
The dilemma now lies in whether to intervene with relieving channels or water pumping. Turowski questions the feasibility of launching such operations given the soft nature of the material and the risk of further collapse events. He also poses the questions: Where can one even begin with machinery, and how quickly can one work? The decisions must be made swiftly, but carefully.
[1] World Meteorological Organization: Climate Change in Switzerland (2020)[2] British Antarctic Survey: Glacier Collapse and Climate Change (2019)
- The disaster in Blatten, Switzerland might be influenced by climate change, as alterations in snowfall and melt patterns, changes in temperature, and melting glaciers could potentially deplete structural support for mountain slopes.
- The event in Blatten highlights the significance of environmental science, as understanding geological shifts, metal health, and health-and-wellness impacts related to climate change is crucial for predicting and preparing for future disasters.
- In the realm of science, it is essential to continue investigating the correlation between climate change and events like the landslide in Blatten to develop effective strategies for health-and-wellness, environmental-science, and disaster management in the future.
