Scientists Increase Monitoring of Glacier Near the Swiss Mountain Village of Blatten That Was Buried Last Year
The authorities stress that there is no immediate danger, but they have stepped up observations of the Oigschtchummun Glacier above the hamlet of Fafleralp in Lötschental.
It is a few kilometres from the Birch Glacier and the devastated village of Blatten.
Local authorities said satellite data and field observations had detected “isolated collapses” and other “anomalies” on the glacier in recent months.
The glacier tongue has also been advancing slowly since winter, raising concerns that ice and debris could reach the cantonal road between Blatten and Fafleralp.
While the scale of the risk remains unclear, lessons from last year’s disaster have prompted intensified surveillance.
See more on Swiss Info.
Reconnaissance flights have been carried out regularly, and specialists have surveyed the glacier using LiDAR sensors.
A fixed camera has been installed to allow round the clock observations to take place.
As a precaution, the road between Stampbach and Fafleralp and a popular hiking trail have been closed.
The Birch glacier partially collapsed burying the village of Blatten almost a year ago.
Nine million cubic metres of rock, mud and ice surged down the slope at around 200km/h, engulfing the village.
All 300 residents had been evacuated in advance, but one person died.
The site remains largely inaccessible due to ongoing hazards.
“The Oigschtchummun Glacier bears some similarities with Birch Glacier regarding its size, exposure and slope,” said Matthias Huss, a glaciologist and director of the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (GLAMOS), told Swissinfo.
“Interestingly, also this glacier has shown a significant increase in ice thickness at the snout starting already about ten years ago, while the upper parts of the glacier have lost thickness.”.
This is similar to the development of the Birch Glacier several years before the break-off and indicates an acceleration of ice flow speed.
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