The Alps have long been known as the big losers from climate change, but as researchers now warn, the process is well advanced. A research project with hikers has shown that in Germany a large part of the mountains between Berchtesgaden and Oberstdorf will still be covered with trees by this century. This poses many dangers in the future.
When you rest at the summit, let your eyes wander far over lush mountain meadows – but that will become less common in the future. “The mountains are growing. The beautiful landscapes above the tree line, where we have a great view and where the cows graze peacefully, everything grows,” says Jörg Ewald of the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, explaining the preliminary results of the hands-on project “Explore tree lines”.
Mountain enthusiasts are asked to pay attention to the tallest specimens of 23 tree species during their tours. When they discover a tree that can be used for elevation, its location, including GPS coordinates and a photo, is saved to an app.
Comparative data from the Kingdom
The trick: In 1854, the tallest specimens were registered by order of the Bavarian King Maximilian II – precisely at that time, which is now considered the reference for pre-industrial climatic conditions. And even then, the temperature was measured daily at the weather station on the Upper Bavarian Hohen Peißenberg.
“Since then, the temperature in the Alps has already risen by two degrees,” explains Ewald. The holly, for example, which had its highest point at 907 meters in 1854, can now be found at 1300 meters – so it has risen exactly the 400 meters you would expect due to the higher average temperature.
Plants keep climbing
“You can look at this process tree species by tree species,” continued botany professor Ewald. The data of the tractors is transferred to clearly arranged maps – can be viewed in the “portal” at www.baysics.de. Projections for the future can also be found at the click of a mouse in the “NatureExplorer”.
For example, the areas where holly could grow with a further warming of one degree and two degrees appear red – which the researchers expect with only a moderate increase in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2050 or 2100.
“Like a time bomb about to expire”
“Then we would be four degrees higher than 1850 – which many scientists think is the most likely. We can hardly avoid that anymore,” emphasized Ewald. According to the prediction, by the end of this century, only the peaks of the Zugspitz massif would still rise above the forests. “It’s crazy what we’re doing with the climate. It’s like a time bomb exploding before our eyes!”
The mountain areas warm up faster than the lowlands because there is less and less ice and snow in the mountains. This is because white surfaces reflect solar energy much better than dark surfaces such as gravel or grassland. As the proportion of dark areas increases, the mountains warm up – in addition to the “normal” increase caused by greenhouse gases.
Far-reaching dangers
For example, if in the future the permafrost on the Zugspitze thaws, but no protective forest can grow due to a lack of soil development, “there are more natural hazards,” explains Menzel. These include avalanches, mudslides, unstable slopes and rocky outcrops.
And there is also a danger on lower-lying mountains: Menzel warns that the risk of forest fires will increase considerably in winter due to the increasing drought. At the snack at the summit, the sight of charred trees and shrubs can spoil your appetite. Menzel therefore sees only one option: “We need to get rid of fossil fuels and switch to regenerative energies, and we need to do that as quickly as possible.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
