He – Duncan Porter, a programmer and computer whiz, she – Helen Porter, a nurse from Bristol. Returning from a camping holiday, They decided to take a photo in the same spot as before, with a glacier in the background. They again posed for a romantic hug. However, what shocked me was not the passing of the years, but… the background. It changed, it changed a lot. No trace of the great Swiss glacier.
I won’t lie, I was in tears.
The photo quickly went viral. They have already been viewed more than 4 million times on the X platform.
Glaciers are in danger of extinction
Switzerland lost about 10%. Its glacial ice in two years – According to research by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and Glacier Monitoring Switzerland (GLAMOS) published last year. A third of the glacier’s volume has melted since 2000.
A previous study showed that Half of the world’s glaciers could disappear by the end of the century, even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C. Glaciers in Austria and Italy are also at risk, including glaciers in the Dolomites. But the authors stressed that climate action could save the rest.
Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world. Temperatures are now 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, compared to 1.3 degrees Celsius globally.
As we have already written, if all the ice in the world melts, sea and ocean levels will rise by more than 65 meters. Although we are not threatened by such a rapid increase, the current rate of melting of the glaciers will still cause a lot of harm. If nothing changes in this regard, the world’s water level will be at least 40 centimeters higher by 2100. Although this may not seem like much, it has devastating effects on the environment, coastal areas and fisheries.
Apocalyptic landscape in Switzerland
Comparing photos of the British couple is shocking. It should be a nice souvenir, but it brings tears to my eyes. It shows how much the huge glacier at the source of the Rhone River, which flows through Switzerland and France, has melted.
The Porters returned to the same location 15 years later (this time with their children) and photographed it in the famous fashion of recreating the situation years later. The first photo was taken in 2009 and shows a married couple with a beautiful glacier in the background. This year also features porters.
However, the landscape behind them is a disaster. A vast layer of white snow has melted away, revealing rugged gray rock, and the lake is now in the foreground. This stark contrast caught the attention of many who found the side-by-side photos interesting Hard evidence of climate change.
Part of the glacier collapsed. The view is stunning© 2022 Associated Press
Sources: Euronews, The Guardian
. “Hardcore internet junkie. Award-winning bacon ninja. Social media trailblazer. Subtly charming pop culture advocate. Falls down a lot.”