A team of experts from the SAT Glaciological Commission flew a drone over a glacier in the Italian Alps on Saturday, the day before the collapse that killed at least six people. According to glaciologists, “such an intense and tragic event was not easy to predict.”
In the text that accompanies the video posted on the social network Facebook, the glaciologists say that on Saturday afternoon they were in the Marmolada mountain range, “above the landslide area”, with climbing rescuers, and explain that for several days in Marmolada temperatures were high.
According to experts, “in recent weeks, the freezing point has fluctuated between 4500 and 4900 meters, subjecting mountains and glacial masses to severe thermal stress.” On the eve of the collapse, the phenomena of “classical runoff due to melting” were already visible.
“The melt water usually penetrates deep into the glacier and also helps it move downstream,” they explain in the text. Meltwater, above zero degrees Celsius, slides over cracks and heats the ice at depth, “enhancing melting even in the coldest areas or where ice and rock come into contact.”
“In the attached images, taken yesterday afternoon, I can see the deployment area. Unfortunately, such an intense and tragic phenomenon was not easy to predict,” the text concludes.
The collapse of the glacier killed at least six people, 20 are missing.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
