Post-Glacial Recession Worsens Waterlogging Condition
Switzerland Witnesses Alpine Calamity: Glacier Collapse and Ensuing Lake Formation
Blatten, Switzerland — After the recent cataclysmic collapse of the Birch Glacier in the Swiss Alps, authorities are grappling with the worsening aftermath: a dammed Lonza riverbed, resulting in the formation of an artificial lake with rising water levels.
The blocked riverbed has caused a lake to expand, with water levels surging as much as three meters per hour at their peak. As of the evening report, the water level has slowed, but the lake continues to increase in size. Experts anticipate the lake to overflow in the early morning hours, necessitating vigilant preparations to safeguard downstream residents.
"Our primary goal is to predict this process as accurately as possible and ensure the safety of those residing downstream," stated Christian Studer of the Natural Hazards Service in a press conference held in Ferden, Lötschental valley. Experts work around the clock, employing experience and computer models to forecast potential outcomes.
While a monster flood overrunning the valley appears improbable, it cannot be ruled out. State Councillor Stéphane Ganzer, a member of Walliser canton government, explained that the pressure from the incoming Lonza water could suddenly breach the debris pile. Moreover, temperatures climbing to 20 degrees Celsius predicted for Friday could expedite snowmelt, escalating water volumes.
Though a slow discharge is more likely, according to Studer, accomplishing this orderly process is uncertain. The lake is expected to drain gradually, but due to the relatively flat slope of the debris cone, there is a chance that the water will flush away deposited material and carry it downstream. However, experts believe that only a moderate amount of loose debris will be transported at once. Ferden, a town further down the valley, features a reservoir and dam, which experts anticipate will halt all debris.
The mountainous region remains precarious as another 300,000 cubic meters of rock threaten to slide down from the Kleine Nesthorn. Rocks have already fallen onto the Birch glacier, causing its collapse on Wednesday afternoon as it thunderously plunged into the valley. The ensuing debris accumulated on the opposite side of the valley, where rockslides now pose a threat. The stability of the entire debris pile remains uncertain due to the presence of ice, which may form water pockets. Following the disaster, army rescue teams are on standby, but entering the area still presents a hazard, authorities warn.
Beat Rieder, a member of Parliament from the neighboring village of Wiler, described the event as a "century's catastrophe" on Swiss television. "This is an occurrence that the valley has never experienced since its inception."
Images captured by drones reveal that a significant portion of Blatten, the last village in Lötschental's 27-kilometer-long valley, lies buried under a meter-thick layer of debris. Initially, most houses were left unscathed; however, flooding from the Lonza soon submerged them. Approximately 300 inhabitants were evacuated last week, with one local resident missing from the disaster zone. Blatten is located around 1,500 meters above sea level.
Ried, a hamlet situated just 1 kilometer before Blatten, has also been affected. Resident Daniel Ritler commented to the portal "20 Minuten" that "in a few seconds, the entire homeland was gone." He could not locate his farm and home in the images, which he likened to the moon.
Some experts have linked the disaster to climate change, citing factors such as rising temperatures, which caused permafrost beneath and around the glacier to thaw, compromising its stability. This event underscores the vulnerability of Alpine glaciers to ongoing climate warming.
As scientists continue to study glacier conditions and climate influences, they predict that glacier collapse will continue to affect Swiss communities economically, environmentally, and socially. Monitoring unstable regions and glaciers will help predict and mitigate future tragedies.
Climate change, a pressing issue, could potentially exacerbate the instability of alpine glaciers like the Birch Glacier, given the role rising temperatures play in thawing permafrost and compromising their structural integrity. In the field of science, environmental scientists are increasingly focusing on understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change on biodyssemination health-and-wellness and the environment, including the destabilization of glaciers and its repercussions.
