Already shrunk by half, study shows Swiss glaciers are melting faster
PBS NewsHourNov 30, 2022
The Facts
A study released Wednesday by the Cryospheric Commission (CC) of the Swiss Academy of Sciences showed that Switzerland's glaciers lost a record-breaking 6% of their total volume this year due to a dry winter and summer heatwaves.
According to Matthias Huss, head of the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network, a combination of factors, including light snow cover and dust drift from the Sahara desert, caused the glaciers to absorb more heat and thus melt more rapidly.
The Spin
Narrative A
With the Swiss Alps experiencing twice the rate of warming compared to the global average, it's no surprise that heat waves and a lack of snowfall have melted away significant chunks of its glaciers. Now that the world has seen the devastating effects of rising temperatures, it's time to work on combatting climate change before it's too late.
Narrative B
Modern-day doomsayers have predicted climate and environmental disasters for decades. None of the apocalyptic predictions have come true so far; why would this time be any different?
