Climate Changes Affect the Climate Changes Affect the LandscapeLandscape

II. gimnazija MariborII. gimnazija Maribor

The Slovene Pride?The Slovene Pride?

• Triglav!!! Is it the same as 50 years ago?

The Triglav glacier in 1957

And in 2003

The Triglav Glacier – “Zeleni sneg” The Triglav Glacier – “Zeleni sneg” (The Green Snow)(The Green Snow)

• The most south-eastern glacier in the Alps on a relatively low altitude

• Sensitive to climate changes; an interesting object for scientific observations

• Both glaciers (Triglav and Skuta mountain) are proabably one of the oldest and longest research projects in Slovenia (1946)

The picture of the Triglav glacier from the publication “Slovenija” 1927

The Triglav glacier in 1924

Its last remains in August 1998

The Triglav glacier in October 2001

The reduction of the glacier’s area from 1952 to 1999

Markations with annual positions of the lower edge of the glacier.

In 1999 the edge of the glacier was here.

The smooth surface of limestone with some cuts proves the moving of the glacier.

Some minor ponds occuras a product of ice melting.

The ice meltsThe ice melts• In 1999 the ice was up to 9,5 m thick, the average

thickness being 4 m.• In 4 years, up to 2003, the glacier has thinned for 1 to 2

metres. • From the year 1952 the glacier has thinned on some

places for more than 35 m. In last ten years it lost approx. 100.000 m3 of ice.

The Triglav glacier from Kredarica (2515 m) – 26. 8. 2003.

Some decades ago summer skiing was possible on the Ledine pod Skuto glacier. There was a ski-lift and a store for borrowing skis. On 26.06.2003 just some patches of ice were left. In 2007 there is no ice any more.

What about the other Glaciers?What about the other Glaciers?

The Pasterze glacier under Grossglockner, Austria, in 1924

Pasterze on 18.08.1996

Pasterze in 2003

The Vernagt glacier in Austria in 1985 and2000. The glacier has been losing his mass from 1980.

The glacier under the Zugspitze on the boarder between Austria and Germany in the years 2003 and 1890.

The Pride of Slovenes - Zeleni The Pride of Slovenes - Zeleni Sneg on the Triglav - is vanishing…Sneg on the Triglav - is vanishing…

A protest of MWS members on Kredarica: Let’s fill our gourds as long as it’s possible!

FactsFacts

• Climate changes can not be avoided

• Adaptations in due time are cheaper and better than instant changes

• Climate changes used for new opportunities and progress in the future

Can we Adapt to it?Can we Adapt to it?

• Plan endurable and robust infrastructure with long-term credits

• Improve adaptability of directing the sensitive areas

• Reducing other (non-climate) negative influences

• Improve the public consciousness and readiness

ConclusionConclusion

• Greater knowledge about climate changes

• Greater awareness & greater contribution

• Like Einstein said:

One can not solve important problems of the contemporary world with the same logic as one created them.

ResourcesResources

Boštjan Kravcar. Zeleni sneg.Geografski zbornik 4, 2007.M. Gabrovca in B. Peršolja. Triglavski ledenik izginja. Geografski

obzorniku 3, 2004. Borut Peršolje. 'Prvenstvo prevzema ledenik pod Skuto' .Priloga Dela

'Znanost" (oktober 2003)

Fotografije so objavljene z dovoljenjem Geografskega instituta Antona Melika Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti in Komisije za glaciologijo Bavarske akademije znanosti.

Fotografije: M. Gabrovec , M. Jenko , J. Fridl , J. Kunaver , Kozak , M. Pavšek , B. Peršolja , M. Zorn in neznan avtor.