Intensive studies on glaciers are being conducted as part of a campaign initiated by the environmental group Legambiente, along with the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (Cipra), in collaboration with the Italian Glaciological Committee. Scientists monitoring the changes have confirmed that Marmolada is losing between 7 and 10 centimeters in depth daily.
Is There Still a Glacier in the Dolomites? Marmolada Falls into an "Irreversible Coma"
In the past five years, Marmolada has lost 70 hectares (173 acres) of its surface area, which is equivalent to 98 soccer fields. Since scientific measurements began in 1888, the glacier has retreated by 1,200 meters. Researchers have referred to this as an "irreversible coma". The effects of the climate crisis are evident throughout the Dolomites, which have been experiencing winter droughts characterized by extremely low snowfall.
Experts point out that, combined with unusually high summer temperatures, this accelerates glacier melt. The Forni Glacier 0 one of Italy’s largest valley glaciers 0 has retreated by 800 meters over the past 30 years and by two kilometers in the last century.
In the summer of 1987, the caretaker of one of the mountain huts witnessed large chunks of ice breaking off during a severe storm. This event triggered a rockslide, leading to the Val Pola landslide that claimed the lives of 43 people. More recently, in 2022, the collapse of a portion of the Marmolada glacier caused an avalanche of ice, snow, and rocks, killing 11 tourists.
The Climate Crisis Is Destroying Another Picturesque Location. The Situation in the Alps Is Worsening
As the Marmolada glacier melts, tons of various debris have surfaced in the area. Among the finds were well-preserved weapons, sleds, letters, diaries, and the bodies of soldiers who fought in the "White War" - battles that took place in the Lombardy Alps of Italy and the Dolomites in Trentino Alto-Adige during World War I.
The Alps are a crucial area both nationally and across Europe. However, due to the ongoing climate crisis, they are becoming increasingly fragile. The Marmolada glacier is a clear example of this
- said Vanda Bonardo, national Alpine coordinator for Legambiente and president of Cipra, as quoted by "The Guardian".
