Why glaciologists believe the Birch Glacier collapsed, burying a nearby Swiss town
A village in the Swiss Alps has been buried beneath ice, rock and mud after a massive piece of a nearby glacier collapsed.
On Wednesday, a landslide from the mountain side of Birch Glacier -- located in the Lötschental valley in northern Switzerland -- flattened homes in the Alpine town of Blatten after a large chunk of the glacier broke off, Bethan Davies, a professor of glaciology at Newcastle University in the U.K., told ABC News.
MORE: How penguin poop can help to mitigate climate change
The collapse occurred as a result of a "cascading disaster," Davies said. There is also concern of flooding in the River Lonza due to the debris from the landslide.
The mountain side of the glacier had been unstable since last week, when millions of pounds of rock debris fell onto the glacier surface, Davies said. The load, along with warm temperatures on Monday, accelerated the glacier's collapse, Swiss Radio and Television reported.
"This is a marked acceleration," Davies said. "Lots of cracks started to form, a sign of the tension in the ice."
MORE: Disappearing glaciers will give way to emerging, 'novel' ecosystems, new research finds
Emergency managers had been observing increased glacier melt at Birch Glacier, ordering hundreds of villagers to evacuate after debris from the mountain behind the glacier crumbled days before the catastrophic collapse.
The collapse likely occurred as a result of permafrost thawing underneath and along the sidewalls surrounding the glacier, Mathieu Morlighem, a glaciologist at Dartmouth College, told ABC News.
The permanently frozen soil is the "glue" that keeps the mountain rock stable, but as temperatures warm, the permafrost melts and destabilizes the mountain, Morlighem said, adding that a similar event happened in the Silvretta Alps in Switzerland in 2023.
The Birch Glacier was "much worse" due to the amount of ice and meltwater, which caused a deluge of ice, mud and rock to damage the picturesque village of Blatten.
MORE: Climate change is making climbing in the Himalayas more challenging, experts say
The dangers of glacial degradation range from a sudden catastrophic collapse to formation of lakes that burst through their natural dams and cause havoc, which has happened in the Himalayas and Andes mountain ranges, Sridhar Anandakrishnan, a glaciologist at Pennsylvania State University, told ABC News.
"I think we can expect more events like this in the future," Morlighem said.
Video of the mudslide shows large mounds of debris racing down the mountain before burying the village of Batten.
Satellite images above the town show where mud and debris cover areas where buildings once stood.
MORE: It may be too late to prevent significant melting on West Antarctic ice shelf that includes 'Doomsday Glacier': Study
Search-and-rescue teams were searching for a missing 64-year-old man, but the search was suspended on Thursday afternoon after authorities deemed the debris mounds too unstable, Reuters reported.
One resident told Reuters that she "lost everything" in the mudslide. Another said, "You can't tell that there was ever a settlement there."
While scientists are cautious about attributing single events to climate change, glaciologists have been concerned about the impact of climate change on glaciers in Switzerland in recent decades.
Mountain landslides are more common in a warming climate, Davies said. In addition, increased rainfall in a warming climate can melt permafrost and change the number of freeze-thaw cycles, which can also exacerbate landslides, Davies said.
Climate change is causing dramatic changes in mountain glaciers in Europe and all over the world, Davies pointed out. At least one-third of European Alps glacier loss will be gone by 2050, even without further warming, according to a 2024 report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative.
"What happened to Birch Glacier is what we would expect from rising temperatures in the Alps and elsewhere," Morlighem said.
MORE: Antarctic sea ice has reached a record low for the year, researchers say
Glaciers in Switzerland have lost almost 40% of their volume since 2000, and the loss is accelerating, according to the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research. Record-high summer temperatures in 2022 and 2023 caused a 10% glacial ice loss in the country.
The average temperature in the Swiss Alps has risen by 3 degrees Celsius since the 1970s, Daniel Farinotti, a glaciologist at ETH Zurich, said during an interview in March.
"Switzerland's glaciers could vanish completely by 2100," Farinotti said.
The melting of Switzerland's glaciers could result in long-term reductions in the country's water supply, according to the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research. Melting may also contribute to rising sea levels in the next century, climate scientists say.
A quarter of Switzerland's glaciers could be saved if global warming is kept to under a 2-degree Celsius rise, the experts said.
Why glaciologists believe the Birch Glacier collapsed, burying a nearby Swiss town originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prayers Pouring In For Americans Facing 'Extreme' Heat Warning
Prayers Pouring In For Americans Facing 'Extreme' Heat Warning originally appeared on The Spun. Millions of Americans will be advised to stay indoors for the next few days due to the heat. The National Weather Service has already issued heat advisories for states in the central U.S. this Friday. There are also several states on the East Coast being placed on extreme heat watch. "Dangerous heat in portions of the country today will evolve as the week progresses, culminating in potentially Extreme heat impacts from the central plains by Saturday, then into the Midwest and East Coast late this weekend and into early next work week," the National Weather Service said. According to ABC News, the Midwest will get hit with this heat wave first. It'll feel like more than 100 degrees in Chicago, Louisville and Nashville. Once it makes its way over to the East Coast, the feel-like temperature will exceed 100 degrees. "By Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it starts to slide towards the east. New York City and Philadelphia haven't had an actual air temperature of 100 in 13 years," ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee said. "We're going to get close. The forecast is around 99 [degrees] for New York, but it's going to feel like 107 [degrees]." Although this extreme heat wave hasn't made impact just yet, Americans are already extending kind thoughts to those on the East Coast. "This heat wave can just go. I hope you all stay safe," one person wrote on X. "Heat wave is on the horizon," a second person said. "Be safe, and remember to check in on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or disabled." "If you live in America and you're experiencing the extreme heat wave we are in right now if you have animals PLEASE make sure you're checking the concrete before letting them on if. if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for them," another person noted. "Yikes, that heat index is no joke! Stay safe out there," a fourth person wrote. The National Weather Service has shared these tips for those facing extreme heat: Stay in air conditioning and out of the sun if possible Check on friends, family, neighbors and pets Drink plenty of water Take breaks and use a buddy system if outdoors If you're vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, it's imperative you stay indoors as much as possible. We're hoping everyone stays safe - and cool - over the next few Pouring In For Americans Facing 'Extreme' Heat Warning first appeared on The Spun on Jun 20, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
'At Least' Three Dead After Tornado Outbreak Slams U.S. State
'At Least' Three Dead After Tornado Outbreak Slams U.S. State originally appeared on The Spun. While most of the United States is dealing with a heatwave this weekend, one region is picking up the pieces from a deadly tornado outbreak. On Friday, tornadoes with 100+ mph wind gusts were detected in North Dakota and Minnesota. There were plenty of power outages reported last night, but the main concern is that North Dakota lost a few lives. According to ABC News, at least three people died in the rural town of Enderlin. The Cass County Sheriff's Office was dispatched at around 11:40 p.m Friday to assess the damage. Before they arrived at the scene though, storm chasers found two deceases people. The death total increased to three shortly after. "Shortly after learning of this, the Enderlin Fire Department was dispatched to another location, and a third deceased person was found as a result of the tornado," the Cass County Sheriff's Office said. "Deputies found extensive damage to the area and began conducting well-being checks on people with several partner agencies. Law enforcement, the Enderlin Fire Department, and other first responders continue searching the area and checking on residents now." The National Weather Service has not yet rated Friday night's tornadoes. "We can't really rate it until we see what kind of damage it produced," National Weather Service meteorologist Timothy Lynch said. "However, from what I saw on radar and first hand accounts that were sent to us via video, they look like they could potentially be very strong tornadoes. Radar-indicated winds upwards of 110 miles-per-hour and several reports from NDDAWN, personal weather stations reported 80, 90, 100 miles-per-hour winds." The National Weather Service usually issues life-saving warnings before tornadoes strike in the United States. Here are some tips in the event a tornado pops up in your town: Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings. Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching. Consider having your safe room reinforced. Encourage your loved ones to prepare for the possibility of tornadoes. Tornado season usually ends in June, but it's possible it'll linger a bit longer this year. We're hoping everyone stays safe.'At Least' Three Dead After Tornado Outbreak Slams U.S. State first appeared on The Spun on Jun 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
a day ago
How targeting Iran's nuclear facilities could impact the environment
The destruction of uranium enrichment sites that support Iran's nuclear program would not likely have severe environmental consequences, several nuclear experts told ABC News. Israel has stated that its attack on Iran is aimed at destroying its capabilities of producing nuclear weapons, alleging that the uranium enrichment sites within Iran are producing materials to make a nuclear weapon. Facilities across Iran range from those extracting uranium to processing facilities where the uranium is transformed into the right chemical form before it goes through the process of enrichment -- or increasing the quantity or concentration, Kathryn Ann Higley, distinguished professor of nuclear science and engineering at Oregon State University and president of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, told ABC News. "Iran would deny that those are nuclear weapon facilities," Matthew Bunn, who leads nuclear policy research at Harvard University, told ABC News. "They're nuclear facilities for sure. Iran claims they're for producing civilian fuel." The enrichment sites are located in Fordo, deep inside a mountain in northwestern Iran, and in Natanz -- which was targeted by military strikes last week. Other facilities targeted include the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, used for metallic uranium production, and the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Israel confirmed that they struck Isfahan again Friday night, targeting centrifuge production areas. While the conflict is concerning, radioactivity as a result of the military strikes is not a top concern, nuclear experts say. "There's plenty to worry about in the Iran-Israel war, but the release of radioactivity is not one of them," Lee Berstein, a professor in the nuclear engineering department at the University of California, Berkeley, told ABC News. Uranium isn't radioactive enough to present a widespread threat The sites targeted so far in Iran contain centrifuges that spin really fast and separate and enrich uranium into a higher grade, Emily A. Caffrey, director for the Health Physics Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told ABC News. However, the rule of thumb with radioactive materials is, the longer the half life, the less dangerous it tends to be in the short-term, Berstein said. But even materials with long half-lives can be hazardous over longer periods of time. The half life of Uranium-235 is more than 700 million years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is radiological and chemical contamination at the Natanz facility, where an above-ground portion of the fuel enrichment plant was damaged after a military strike on June 13, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi told the United Nations Security Council on Friday. The facility likely contained canisters of uranium hexafluoride gas that was released into the environment as a large gas cloud once it was hit, Caffrey said. Uranium hexafluoride is the main risk stemming from the uranium enrichment sites, Di Fulvio said. The gas results from the separating of uranium that is essentially a "precursor" of nuclear fuel. But those gas clouds do not have the ability to cause long-term contamination or radioactive issues, Caffrey said. "It's just a big, heavy gas molecule, so it's not going to go very far," Caffrey said. Enrichment operates at very low pressure, almost near-vacuum pressure, Bunn said, adding that the centrifuges themselves have very little uranium hexafluoride. The canisters would contain the majority of the gas. While there is destruction at multiple sites -- including Natanz, Isfahan and Arak as well as sites in Tehran -- there are no sites where radiological activity has been identified outside facilities, Grossi said. No radiation leaks were reported at Natanz during previous incidents in which the facility sustained damage in 2020 and 2021 -- the latter being a cyber attack, said Angela Di Fulvio, an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and director of the Arms Control Domestic and International Security Program. How far radiation spreads from any particular release depends on the weather -- wind in particular, but also rain, Bunn said. If hexafluoride interacts with water, it can create hydrofluoric acid, causing some chemical issues but not radioactive ones, Caffrey said. "There are a lot of countries that have borders on the Persian Gulf that would not want to see the water in the Gulf contaminated by clouds of radioactive particles blowing in the wind passing over the coasts," said John Erath, senior policy director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. However, uranium hexafluoride appears to be confined within the facilities that were targeted and is manageable with appropriate procedures and safety precautions, Di Fulvio said. Over time, the leaked uranium hexafluoride would get diluted and diffuse out of the environment, Higley said. How does exposure to uranium affect the human body If ingested or inhaled, uranium hexafluoride gas -- in which each of the molecules has six fluorine atoms -- can cause kidney damage, Caffrey said. Atoms combined with a heavy metal can be a "really toxic substance," but usually in large quantities, Bunn said. "You would need to inhale or imbibe a humongous amount of it into your body in order for there to be any effect," Berstein said. The danger isn't radioactivity but rather the heavy metals, Bernstein said. Another 'Chernobyl' situation is unlikely, experts say The 1986 nuclear disaster at Chernobyl likely wouldn't be replicated, even if one of the nuclear reactors in Iran were targeted by military strikes, the experts said. "The Chernobyl disaster was a very special event that was a result of a really badly designed power plant," Bernstein said. Israel and the U.S. are likely being very cognizant of avoiding the nuclear reactors due to the potential disaster that could result if they are hit, Erath said. Nuclear reactors are also now solidly built and would require a large amount of fire power -- such as the U.S. military's massive bunker-buster bombs -- to cause an explosion, the experts said. One of the factors that exacerbated the Chernobyl disaster was a design flaw within the nuclear reactor that exploded, Bernstein said, adding that the design is no longer used. Striking Iran's nuclear reactors -- used to generate nuclear power -- wouldn't release nearly as much radioactive material as Chernobyl, the experts said. The Khondab reactor was under construction and did not contain fuel or other nuclear materials when it was hit on Thursday, according to the IAEA. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, a 1,000-megawatt facility built by Russia, has also been a focus of recent concern, Di Fulvio said. Expulsion of radioactive materials from Bushehr could result from one of three ways: a direct hit by a rocket or missile; damage to the pool of water where spent fuel, the radioactive nuclear fuel that has been removed after it has generated electricity, is stored for cooling; and if the electricity supplied to the plant is interrupted and the plant loses all backup means to generate electricity, M.V. Ramana, a physicist and professor at the University of British Columbia's school of public policy and global affairs, told ABC News. "Although the Israeli military might not be deliberately targeting Bushehr, it is a possibility given the extensive bombing that Iran has been subject to," Ramana said. Grossi warned that the Bushehr nuclear facility might be hit, saying that this would be, "the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences of an attack could be most serious." "It is an operating nuclear power plant and as such it hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material, Grossi said. This plant is used for energy production and not for uranium enrichment, Di Fulvio said. Iran is required to return spent fuel rods from Bushehr back to Russia when they are safe for transport.
