![\\"logo\\"](\\"/img/logo-dpa-factchecking.svg\\"/) * WhatsApp service * About Us ![\\"IFCN](\\"/img/ifcn-certificate.png\\"/) ![\\"EFCSN](\\"/img/efcsn- certificate.png\\"/) ## Trend towards winters with little snow # Excessive snow only at high altitudes in the Alps July 16, 2024, 11:42 a.m. (CEST) The snow cover is very sensitive to climate changes. That means Not that there is less snow everywhere in the Alps - but overall already. More snow than ever in the Alps? This will be in a posting on a social Network claims. The posting refers to data from the Swiss portal for avalanche prevention “White Risk” with the statement, this early summer There is “more snow than ever before” in the Alps, it is quoted as saying. There will be one for this Graphic shared and linked to the Gornergratsee measuring station. Comes from that Statement really from the portal and are the measured values ​​for the entire Alps reversible? ## Evaluation The quote does not come from “White Risk”, as the portal responded to a dpa request confirmed. The graphic in the sharepic is correct at the specific measuring station Above-average values ​​were measured in May and June. But that's true in no way applies to the entire Alps. On the contrary: there are fewer and fewer of them Snow, especially at lower altitudes. ## Facts The graphic shows data from the automatic measuring station “Gornergratsee” (2,953 m above sea level) in the Swiss Valais. In fact, in May and Snow depths measured several times and over a longer period of time in June of this year values ​​measured there over the past 31 years. «From this one station “But you can’t generalize to “the Alps” under any circumstances,” writes Das Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF of the dpa. They are located at the directly neighboring Triftchumme station (2,752 m above sea level). The measured snow depths are definitely within the values ​​that have existed there since were measured - although there are also average values ​​there exceed. The situation is similar with measured values ​​from Weissfluhjoch (2,536 m above sea level) above Davos with more than 90 years of measurement. This early summer, especially at altitudes above 2,500 meters Above average amount of snow - 200 percent of the long-term average the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research assessed the situation at the beginning of June together. Snow-free valleys Despite the data showing large amounts of snow at some altitudes, the The conclusion is that there is generally “more snow than ever before” in the Alpine region permitted. This quote does not come from “White Risk”, as the portal states dpa request confirmed and shows a targeted search. In the entire Alpine region there is “less and less snow, the glaciers are losing significantly in mass and in summer heat becomes a problem even at higher altitudes “The problem is getting bigger and bigger,” says the German “Alpine Climate” report Weather service, GeoSphere Austria and MeteoSchweiz together every six months release (download). The large amounts of precipitation in most areas of the Alps are striking been - while high altitudes received a lot of snow at times, the snow remained Valleys are snow-free over long stretches. The past winter half-year 2023/2024 According to the weather services, it was the second warmest in recorded history. The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF also speaks of it a significant trend towards winters with little snow, especially in the Central Plateau (below 1,300 m above sea level). The number of days with snow cover Soil there is also a “clear decline” - regardless of Elevation or location. In addition, the annual maximums for snowfall would and snow depths have been trending at all stations in recent decades point to lower values. (As of: July 15, 2024) ## Links Posting (archived) Graphics and measured values ​​Gornergratsee (archived) WhiteRisk (archived) Graphics and measured values ​​Triftchumme (archived) Graphics and measured values ​​Weissfluhjoch (archived) AvaBlog SLF (archived) Alpine climate report (archived) SLF: Snow and climate change in Switzerland (archived) ### About dpa fact checks This fact check was carried out as part of the Facebook/Meta independent program Fact check created. Find detailed information about this program You here. Explanations from Facebook/Meta on how to deal with accounts that provide false information spread, can be found here. If you have any objections or comments regarding the content, please send them with a link to the affected Facebook post to factcheck- oesterreich@dpa.com. Please use the relevant templates for this. Information on objections can be found here. Did you know? If you have doubts about a message, claim, image or If you have a video, you can also contact the dpa fact check via WhatsApp. Further information can be found here. powered by dpa-newslab | Imprint | Privacy | About:
White Risk the portal for avalanche prevention reports This early summer there is more snow than ever before in the Alps