Climate change in Switzerland

The climate is changing in Switzerland too. The measured rise in temperatures during the 20th century of 1.4°C, is about twice as high as the global average. Currently, experts expect a temperature rise of 1 to 3.5°C by 2050 compared to 1990. Due to its geographic location, Switzerland and the Alpine region in particular are especially vulnerable to climate changes.

The following aspects of the expected climate change will have a special impact on Switzerland:

• Floods and extreme rainfall: A further increase in extreme precipitation and therefore floods and landslides, especially in winter, is to be expected. Due to warming, more winter precipitation will be falling as rain instead of snow, leading to immediate run-off and increased risk of flooding.
• Heat waves: As a result of climate change, more frequent, more intensive and longer-lasting heat waves, and an increase in summer droughts are expected in Switzerland as well.
• Land slides and debris flows: The increase in precipitation intensity brings with it the likelihood of more frequent land slides and debris flows in the Alpine region.
• Snow line: The average snow line has increased in altitude considerably since 1960. Predicted future warming would result in a further raising of the snow line by around 300 metres. This would have serious consequences for low-lying winter sport destinations in Switzerland.
• Glacial melting: The glaciers in the Alpine region have melted considerably in the last 150 years. In the hot summer of 2003 alone, some glaciers lost 5-10% of their ice volume. It is expected that this glacial melting will continue through the 21st century. According to an average scenario, about three quarters of the current glacier surface could disappear by 2050.
• Rock falls and permafrost: The rise in temperature in the Alps leads to a melting of the permanently frozen sub-soil (permafrost). With that, the risk of rock falls increases - an increase has already been observed during the hot summer of 2003. Infrastructure that has been built on permafrost, such as cable car stations, mountain huts etc., are destabilised by melting permafrost.

Sources:
OECD (2007): Climate Change in the European Alps: Adapting Winter Tourism and Natural Hazards Management.
OCCC (2002): The climate is changing – even in Switzerland.
IPCC (2007): Fourth Assessment Report.