Climate change is turning snowy Alps green, and the vanishing snow cover is now visible from space as the planet warms.
The world is getting hotter and extreme events to become more intense and frequent, the consequences are being seen on the far frontiers of the planets. The Alps mountain ranges in Europe are witnessing tremendous changes as their snow-covered peaks are becoming greener.
Climate change has had a global impact and the effects are visible on the snow-covered peaks of the Alps. The warming of the planet has activated a vicious circle that could impact millions in Europe.
Researchers found that global warming has had a significant impact on the Alpine region similar to the one being noticed in the Arctic. Using satellite data, researchers found that the tree line has increased in nearly 80 percent of the Alps, and the snow caps are decreasing, although so far only slightly.
The findings of the study published in the journal Science state that the mountains are experiencing more dramatic warming than at lower elevations, with increasing snowmelt and changing patterns of snowfall. They examined how the past four decades of climate change have influenced snow cover and vegetation productivity in the European Alps.
The team, which had researchers from the University of Lausanne and the University of Basel found that the reduction in snow cover is visible from space as triggered by the melting of glaciers. They studied snow cover and vegetation using high-resolution satellite data from 1984 to 2021.
During the period, plant biomass above the tree line increased in more than 77 percent of the observed area. This phenomenon of “greening” due to climate change is already well documented in the Arctic. “The scale of the change has turned out to be absolutely massive in the Alps. Alpine plants are adapted to harsh conditions, but they’re not very competitive. The unique biodiversity of the Alps is therefore under considerable pressure,” Sabine Rumpf, lead author of the study said in a statement.
While the extent of snow cover above the tree line has only altered slightly since 1984, researchers excluded regions below 1.700 meters, glaciers, and forests.
“Vegetation productivity has increased across over two-thirds of the area above the tree line, with potential ecological and climate impacts. Feedback between snow and vegetation will likely lead to even more pronounced changes in the future,” researchers said in the paper.
“Greener mountains reflect less sunlight and therefore lead to further warming and, in turn, to further shrinkage of reflective snow cover,” says Sabine Rumpf.
Scientists fear that as global warming persists, the Alps will turn more and more from white to green, creating a vicious circle. Warming also causes further melting of glaciers and the thawing of permafrost, which may lead to more landslides, rockfalls, and mudflows.
How to Prevent Global Warming
You can prevent global warming by using public transport to reduce the traffic, riding a bike to help the environment and also a great way to get exercise, consume less electricity, replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs to help you save electricity too, recycle by collecting your discarded paper, glass, plastic, and electronics to your local recycling center, educate yourself and others, vote for the right leaders who activate prevention of climate change and spread awareness about renewable energy is the best way to create a positive impact in your community. By showing others how renewable energy is better than utilizing fossil fuels, you will convince others into supporting the idea.