Cold in the Alps!

2001/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

Researchers have warned that the permafrost of several mountains of the Alps is melting and that there may be danger to villages and tourist areas.

Permafrost is an icy soil all year round and very sensitive to temperature. In case of melting it can cause strong alludes. Cardiff University of Great Britain investigates the situation of European permafrost. They measure the thickness and temperature of permafrost in order to identify the most unstable regions and, apparently, the greatest risk is in Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany and Italy, where the slopes of the mountains are very steep and the population density is very high.

In the Alps, permafrost temperature has risen between 0.5 and 1 degree in the last 15 years, according to researchers. Therefore, a precautionary call has been made.