Climate change has added over 1000 lakes in Swiss Alps: study

Climate change has added over 1000 lakes in Swiss Alps: study

Subject: Environment

Context: According to a study published by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), climate change has dramatically altered the Swiss Alp landscape.

Concept:

• Almost 1,200 new lakes have formed in formerly glaciated regions of the Swiss Alps since the end of the Little Ice Age around 1850.
• About 180 have been added in the last decade alone.
• Glaciers in the Swiss Alps are in steady decline, losing a full 2% of their volume in 2020 alone.
• According to a 2019 study, even if the world were to fully implement the 2015 Paris Agreement two-thirds of the Alpine glaciers will likely be lost.

Swiss Alps:

• The Alps are the highest and extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe.
• It stretches across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.
• The mountains were formed as the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided.
• The Alpine region of Switzerland is conventionally referred to as the Swiss Alps.
• The Alps cover 60% of Switzerland’s total surface area, making it one of the most alpine countries.