Pictures reveal the impact of climate change on Germany's landscape - Images reveal the impact of climate alteration on Germany
Climate change is taking a toll on Germany and the Alps, with rising temperatures and fewer frost days causing significant changes in glaciers, forests, and lakes.
Glaciers Retreating Rapidly
The European Alps, including those in Germany, are witnessing a rapid retreat of glaciers. Since 1850, about 50% of the ice volume has already been lost, with the rate of retreat accelerating since 1975. Predictions suggest that around half of the remaining glaciers could disappear by 2050 [1][2][3][5]. This retreat exposes rock slopes, which are no longer stabilized by ice, increasing the risks of rockfalls due to freeze-thaw cycles and melting permafrost acting as "glue" in rock cracks. These changes also increase hazards such as landslides and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which have catastrophic downstream impacts.
Forests Under Stress
Forests in Germany are also under stress due to increased temperatures and fewer frost days, altering species composition and health. While detailed forest-specific impacts were not provided, climate-driven stress factors typically include drought, pest outbreaks, and shifts in growth patterns aligned with warmer conditions and longer growing seasons.
Lakes Struggling with Warming
Lakes are affected by warming, with fewer frost days leading to shorter ice cover periods. This affects lake stratification, water temperature, and ecosystems. Glacial lakes linked to retreating glaciers can grow and become unstable, risking catastrophic outburst floods if their natural ice or moraine dams fail. Such events are increasing as glaciers melt faster due to warming, representing a growing hazard in alpine and mountain regions [3].
Documenting the Effects of Climate Change
To document the effects of climate change, the German Press Agency has begun to systematically document the changes at various locations in Germany. Every August, dpa photographers take pictures of forests, lakes, and glaciers at exactly the same locations. The photographs reveal the significant stress that forests in Germany are under due to heat, drought, fungi, beetles, and climate change. Four out of five of the most common tree species are diseased [4].
The Future Outlook
Unless global warming is limited and effective local adaptation measures are implemented, the future is expected to see continued glacier loss, increased landscape hazards, and ecological shifts. The Northern Schneeferner on the 2,962-meter-high Zugspitze may no longer be considered a glacier by the end of the decade. Despite relatively favorable weather conditions, damage levels remain at "very high levels." Germany has warmed by 2.6 degrees compared to the pre-industrial era [4].
The Need for Action
Measures such as reforestation only show significant results after decades. Net-zero by 2045 means that carbon sinks in the form of forests should not only be preserved but also expanded where possible to compensate for emissions in sectors where they are difficult to avoid. However, due to higher temperatures, prolonged dry periods, storms, and stress from pests, forests are now emitting more carbon than they absorb [6].
In conclusion, rising temperatures and fewer frost days in Germany and the Alps are causing glacier retreat, destabilizing alpine landscapes, increasing hazards like rockfalls and glacial lake floods, while stressing forests and altering lake ecosystems. The future is expected to see continued glacier loss (up to half disappearing by 2050), increased landscape hazards, and ecological shifts unless global warming is limited and effective local adaptation measures are implemented [1][2][3][5].
[1] https://www.bam.de/EN/topics/climatechange/climatechange_node.html [2] https://www.awi.de/en/home/research/climate-change/ [3] https://www.dwd.de/EN/topics/climate/climate_changes/climate_changes.html [4] https://www.dpa.de/de/presse-mitteilungen/aktuell/2022-08-12-klimawandel-ein-bild-wert-1626033 [5] https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/climate-change [6] https://www.dw.com/en/climate-change-is-killing-germany-s-forests-report-says/a-58725167
- The increasing rate of environmental protection is essential to slow down the retreat of glaciers, stabilize alpine landscapes, and protect vital forest and lake ecosystems in Germany and the Alps.
- Science, particularly environmental science, can contribute significantly to understanding the impacts of climate change on various aspects of the environment, such as glaciers, forests, and lakes in the region.
- Adopting health-and-wellness practices, including reducing carbon footprints, can help mitigate climate change effects, ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of the environment and communities in Germany and the Alps.
