Ice in Retreat

According to NASA's Land-Cover/Land-Use Change Program, Glacial Retreat in the Alps:

1. The European Alps have lost approximately 50% of their total glacial volume between 1850 and 1975, with an additional 35-40% of the remaining amount lost since 1975 (Haeberli et al. 2007).
2. In 2003, a record heatwave swept through Europe causing a mean glacial mass balance loss of 2.45 meters-water equivalent (m w.e.) in the European Alps. This was one of the most significant mass balance losses within the past 2,000 years (Haeberli et al. 2007).
3. Switzerland relies on hydroelectric power for 50% of its energy supply, and much of this is sourced from glacial meltwaters provided by the Swiss Alps (UNEP 2008).
4. A rise in temperature of 2 degrees Celsius would decrease the snow reliability of high-altitude ski resorts by over 20%, with even more drastic results for low-altitude resorts. This would be potentially disastrous to Switzerland's tourism-dependent economy (Koenig et al. 1997).

From our short visit to the high mountains in Switzerland, the degree of loss of ice cover was abundantly evident.