Despite the heat waves, in some places in the northern hemisphere you can still see snow covered peaks who refuses to abandon them. This was quite common in the past and still is today. However, little by little those icy mountains will become more and more exceptional. There is more to see the record that has just been detected in the Swiss Alpswhere the freezing temperature has reached higher than ever.
According to Swiss Federal Office for Meteorology and Climatologythe temperature at which water begins to freeze It has been located in this month of July at 5,184 meters. Since there have been records of heat waves, there was only one other occasion in which the data exceeded 5,000 meters. It was in July 1995, but only reached 5,117 metersso this time we can talk about an absolute record.
Now, what does it mean that the freezing point is so high? To begin with, it implies that we must assume once and for all that these heat waves are not normal. As much as the heat in summer is normal, what is happening lately is not. And the worst thing is that this has only just begun.
A freezing point above the mountains of the Alps
known as zones of perpetual snow to those in which, despite the summer heat and heat waves, the mountains remain snowy. The amount of snow is less, of course, but it can be seen in greater or lesser amounts throughout the year.
This persistence of the ice is due to several reasons, among which, of course, the high altitudes stand out. In the end, the freezing pointin which the temperature is low enough for water to freeze, increases with height.
To this day, these perpetual snows can be seen on large peaks, such as Kilimanjaro or Everest. In some mountains of the Alps they were also visible in the past, but not long ago. Even so, sounding balloons are still used to measure the freezing temperature at different heights of the mountain range. The Swiss Federal Office for Meteorology and Climatology is in charge of doing this. For this reason, it has been from there that the warning about this dangerous record that the heat wave has brought us has been launched.
This year the freezing point has been detected higher than ever. The highest mountain in Switzerland is the dufour peak and measures 4,634 meters. Therefore, it is well below those 5,184 in which water can turn into ice. But if we go beyond the Swiss Alps and analyze the entire mountain range, we find that its highest mountain is another: Mont Blanc. This peak, located between Italy and France, measures 4,806 meters. Therefore, its top is still very far from the freezing point.
The danger of heat waves
During the last few days there has been a great discussion between those who consider that heat waves are a dim harbinger of what is to come and those who believe that it is an exaggeration, that it has always been hot in summer.
Obviously, it is normal for temperatures to be high at this time of year. But there is more to see the large number of heat waves that are happeningone after another, to understand that this is not “normal”.
In addition, as if this were not enough, we have other indicators, among which is precisely the alps freezing point. It has reached its highest location since records exist. Precisely during a July in which many other extreme measurements have been taken with heat waves.
And, without a doubt, it is a good way to predict what can happen soon at sea level. According to a 2015 study, places located above 4,000 meters are getting warmer 75% faster than those below 2,000 meters. What is happening in the Alps today will soon happen down here if no action is taken.
While the snows are getting rarer and rarer, those of us far below the clouds are still arguing instead of preparing for what’s to come. We still have time to do something about the heat waves, but for that we must be aware.