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8 HEALTH AND LABORATORY MAGAZINE

CONSEQUENCES OF

CLIMATE CHANGE IN

THE ALPS

Global warming has a

particularly pronounced

impact on the Alpine

region. Like the Arctic, this
European mountain range

is becoming greener.

Scientists from the Univer- is already visible from author of the study and, In contrast to vegetation, conclusions about snow
sity of Lausanne and the space but this is by no since February, assistant the extent of snow cover depth.
University of Basel, writing means the biggest change. professor at the Universi- above the tree line has
in the journal Science, have This is the conclusion of ty of Basel. The Alps are only changed slightly since As global warming contin-
now used satellite data a research team led by becoming greener because 1984. For their analysis, the ues, the Alps will turn more
to show that vegetation Professor Sabine Rumpf plants are colonizing new researchers excluded re- and more from white to
above the tree line has from the University of Ba- areas and the vegetation is gions below 1.700 meters, green, creating a vicious
increased in nearly 80% sel and Professor Grégoire generally becoming denser glaciers, and forests. In the circle: “Greener mountains
of the Alps. Snow cover is Mariéthoz and Professor and taller. remaining regions, they
also decreasing, albeit so Antoine Guisan from the found that snow cover had reflect less sunlight and
far only slightly. University of Lausanne. Previous studies have decreased significantly in therefore lead to further
primarily focused on the almost 10% of the area. warming – and, in turn,
As the highest and most Working with colleagues influence of global warming This may not sound like a to further shrinkage of
extensive mountain range in the Netherlands and on Alpine biodiversity and lot, but the researchers are reflective snow cover,”
system that lies entirely Finland, the researchers changes in the distribu- keen to highlight that it is says Rumpf. Warming also
in Europe, the Alps are investigated the change in tion of plant species. Until nevertheless a worrying causes further melting of
known for their majestic snow cover and vegeta- now, however, no one had trend. glaciers and the thawing
beauty. Many think of it as tion using high-resolution conducted such a com- of permafrost, which may
a pristine area that would satellite data from 1984 prehensive analysis of the “Previous analyses of sat- lead to more landslides,
be mostly free from the to 2021. Over this period, changes in vegetation ellite data hadn’t identified rockfalls, and mudflows.
effects of human civiliza- plant biomass above the productivity in the Alps. any such trend,” explains Furthermore, Rumpf em-
tion. After all, Mont Blanc, tree line increased in more The authors show that the Antoine Guisan, one of
the highest mountain in the than 77% of the observed increase of plant biomass the two senior authors of phasizes the important role
Alps, reaches to a height area. This phenomenon of is primarily due to changes the study. “This may be of snow and ice from the
of 4,809 m (15,778 ft) and “greening” due to climate in precipitation and longer because the resolution of Alps in the supply of drink-
128 peaks are higher than change is already well doc- vegetation periods as a re- the satellite images was ing water and, not least, for
4,000 m (13,000 ft). Yet umented in the Arctic and sult of rising temperatures. insufficient or because the recreation and tourism.
like the Arctic, the Alpine starts also to be detected periods considered were
region is acutely feeling the in mountains. “Alpine plants are adapted too short.” Reference: “From white
impact of climate change. to harsh conditions, but to green: Snow cover loss
The Alps stretch about they’re not very com- “For years, local ground- and increased vegetation
It isn’t just a matter of 1,210 km (750 miles) petitive,” says Rumpf. As based measurements have productivity in the Euro-
melting glaciers either. across France, Switzerland, environmental conditions shown a decrease in snow pean Alps” by Sabine B.
Satellite data shows that Monaco, Italy, Liechten- change, she says, these depth at low elevations,” Rumpf, Mathieu Gravey,
vegetation above the tree stein, Austria, Germany, specialized species lose adds Grégoire Mariéthoz. Olivier Brönnimann, Miska
line has increased in nearly and Slovenia. Greater plant their advantage and are “This decrease has already
80% of the Alps and snow biomass in three-quarters outcompeted: “The unique caused some areas to Luoto, Carmen Cianfrani
cover is decreasing. of the Alps biodiversity of the Alps is become largely snow-free.” Gregoire Mariethoz and
therefore under considera- Based on the satellite data, Antoine Guisan, 2 June
Melting glaciers have be- “The scale of the change ble pressure.” it’s possible to distinguish 2022, Science.
come a symbol of climate has turned out to be abso- whether a specific area is
change in the Alps. Now, lutely massive in the Alps,” Already a slight reduction covered with snow or not, DOI: 10.1126/science.
the reduction in snow cover says Sabine Rumpf, lead in snow cover but doesn’t allow to draw abn6697