The Schwarzmilchferner glacier, located in the Austrian part of the Alps, has lost its active status. The ice mass no longer flows downward under its own weight, which scientists attribute to record summer heat in the European region, Bild reports.
Consequences of ice melting
Anomalous heat, the strongest ever recorded, has led to a sharp reduction in the ice mass. Even heavy winter snowfalls are unable to compensate for the current mass losses in the Alps.
Schwarzmilchferner glacier indicators
"Based on the current situation, I expect the Eastern Alps to lose all its glaciers by 2060–2070"
Climate changes have affected more than just glaciers. In July of this year, in countries such as Austria, Spain, France, Germany, and Hungary, soil moisture fell to its lowest levels since 1979. A significant decrease in the flow of major rivers, including the Danube and the Rhine, has also been recorded.
Context
These events are occurring in Austria, a European nation with a population of approximately 8.9 million people. Record heat in Europe has affected a region where more than 744 million people live.
