Pics of Switzerland glacier taken 15 years apart show impact of climate change
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Loading... - Gregor Berger
- 09 Aug 2024
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A man recently shared photos that vividly illustrate the dramatic decline of the Rhone Glacier in Switzerland over the past 15 years, underscoring the severe impact of climate change. Duncan Porter, an active user on X, posted a striking comparison that highlights the significant changes the glacier has undergone during this period.
"Fifteen years minus one day between these photos. Taken at the Rhone glacier in Switzerland today. Not gonna lie, it made me cry," Porter wrote in the caption accompanying two photos. The first image, taken 15 years ago, shows Porter and a woman standing before the vast, white glacier. In the second, more recent photo, the glacier has noticeably shrunk, starkly contrasting its former size.
Porter is a dedicated volunteer committed to environmental causes, as noted in a LinkedIn post by Protect Earth, a charity focused on addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. He actively contributes his time, money, and energy to the fight against climate change.
Globally, glaciers are melting at an alarming rate due to rising temperatures. A report by the World Economic Forum revealed that in just two years, Switzerland's glaciers have lost 10 percent of their total volume. The Swiss Commission for Cryosphere Observation and Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland (GLAMOS) have recorded a "catastrophic" decline following two years of hot summers and low snowfall.
In 2022 alone, Swiss glaciers experienced a record six percent volume loss, the largest since measurements began in the 1960s, according to the World Economic Forum. The summer of 2023, the hottest on record, brought an additional four percent loss.
