Glacier Retreat Threatens Swiss Hydropower and Biodiversity
Over 1,100 of Switzerland’s small glaciers have disappeared since the early 1970s, and the remaining glaciers have lost 40% of their volume since 2000, shrinking from 75 km³ to 45 km³ by 2025. The loss of glacier melt threatens the country’s hydropower supply, which relies on steady runoff, and accelerates sedimentation in reservoirs, reducing their capacity. Concurrently, glacier retreat is altering microbial ecosystems, prompting initiatives to preserve the unique microbiome before it disappears.
Over 1,100 of Switzerland’s small glaciers have disappeared since the early 1970s, and the remaining glaciers have lost 40% of their volume since 2000, shrinking from 75 km³ to 45 km³ by 2025. The loss of glacier melt threatens the country’s hydropower supply, which relies on steady runoff, and accelerates sedimentation in reservoirs, reducing their capacity. Concurrently, glacier retreat is altering microbial ecosystems, prompting initiatives to preserve the unique microbiome before it disappears.
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