The Threat of Avalanches in the Engadin

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In the last 76 years, an average of 25 people, which totals to 1884, have died in avalanche incidents in Switzerland (Techel, Zweifel, 2013). The numbers of tourism have been increasing in the last couple of years, which has led to the expansion of settlements, also in the Engadin.

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The main cause of these avalanches is permafrost, which has been closely monitored and safety measurements have been built in its terrain (Phillips, 2005). But new structures are being developed to ensure the safety of the tourists in the region.  Improved snow supporting structures are being tested and one of their test sites is Pontresina, Engadin, a tourist attraction (Phillips, 2005).  Test site is the Laviner Giandains avalanche gully, 36 degree steep, west oriented blocky slope, not only an avalanche risk zone but also a potential release for large debris flows in summers (Phillips, 2005).

(http://www.monosar.org/safety_article_avalanche/swiss_avalanche_danger_chart_w600hq.jpg)

The results of these studies conducted in, to build at the end of the gully an avalanche/ debris flow retention dam, that now will protect the city of Pontresina and its tourism from the dangerous threat and it also helped other regions around the world that suffer from dangers caused by permafrost (Philipps, 2005).

(http://www.gletscherarchiv.de/die_folgen/pontresina-geschiebemauer-engadin-graubuenden-schweiz-22-9-2/)

Nevertheless, avalanche/debris flow retention dams, snow-supporting structures, and others are no excuse to take your ski off course, because avalanches still kill 25 people a year in Switzerland, on average, alone. So, check the “Lawinenbulletin” website for Switzerland to ensure you won’t become a victim to mass wasting (SLF, 2017). On this website, a useful resource for every tourist coming to the Engadin, it is possible to check the risk level for dry and wet avalanches in your area (SLF, 2017).  It’s always better to be safe than sorry, when it comes to the dangers of mass wasting, especially in areas where permafrost causes them, since there is ways to contain them, but not to completely stop them.

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References:

Phillips, M. (2005, December 05). Avalanche Defence Strategies and Monitoring of Two Sites in Mountain Permafrost Terrain, Pontresina, Eastern Swiss Alps. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/ninas/Downloads/Avalanche_Defence_Strategies_and_Monitoring_of_Two.pdf

SLF, W. (n.d.). SLF > Avalanche bulletins > Avalanche danger. Retrieved March 30, 2017, from http://www.slf.ch/lawinenbulletin/lawinengefahr/index_EN

Techel, F., & Weifel, B. (2013). Recreational avalanche accidents in Switzerland: Trends and patterns with an emphasis on burial, rescue methods and avalanche danger. Retrieved March 27, 2017, from http://www.slf.ch/praevention/lawinenunfaelle/Publikationen/Techel_Zweifel_Unfaelle_ISSW_2013_Paper.pdf

The Future of the Engadin

The Engadin is one of many tourist attractions Switzerland has to offer. Every year, tourists visit the Engadin for its beautiful landscape to hike in during the summers and to ski in the winter. But, with a continuing loss of glaciers and increase in temperatures in the Swiss Alps due to Global warming, many in the region are concerned for the future of the tourism in the Engadin.

The view of the Engadin mountains during a good snow coverage winter. Picture from https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=9Wc04PKT&id=7F2C6DF3E388DEEF23C623506AD5BB0188FAE5F9&q=engadin&simid=608022398176265077&selectedindex=56&mode=overlay&first=1&thid=OIP.9Wc04PKTEAXQrScvPzU2agEsB1

Background of the Swiss Alps

The Swiss Alps were created as a result of the collision between the European and the African tectonic plate, occurring between the Mesozoic and Miocene epochs (1). The shape of the Alps has been determined by especially ice erosion, since masses of ice have advanced and retreated numerous times through these mountains as the climate cooled and warmed over the years (1).

Current situation of the Swiss Alps

In the recent decades’ temperatures, have substantially risen in the region, with significant warming occurring since the 1990s. Global warming and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) play a major role in negative snow accumulation in the Swiss Alps in the recent years (2). Due to this development, the snow season now starts 12 days later and ends 26 days earlier than in the 1970’(2).          

Recession of the Morteratsch glacier in the Engadin. On the left, a picture from the glacier in 1900 and on the right a picture from 2012. Picture from http://www.swisseduc.ch/glaciers/morteratsch/repeat_photos_1972_2012/morteratsch_chuenetta/index-en.html

Future Predictions for the Engadin

Global warming is not only causing the glaciers in the Alps to recess, but it also has a great effect on the snow coverage, which is crucial for the tourism flow to the Engadin. Climate change calculations expect an air temperature increase between 2.7-4.1°C by 2085 for the region, and they calculate a decrease in snow cover duration by 30 days for every 1°C increase in temperature (2). This will cause winter tourism to greatly decrease.

The later snowfall is already affecting the winter tourist areas of the Swiss alps. More and more days during the winters could look like this is the future Picture from https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=jqLIOErM&id=5DB519E47C0408396714BB3929A7EE0FEBE6C6B8&q=swiss+alps+sno+coverage+decrease&simid=607999067901726180&selectedIndex=75&ajaxhist=0

Conclusion

Even though the Swiss Alps have seen many retreating and growing of their glaciers before, the outlook for the Engadin’s winter tourism is dull. Global warming is a major player in temperature increase and snow decrease, which will lead to a decline in tourism during the winter.

1.      Burns, S. F. (n.d.). Alps. Retrieved March 04, 2017, from http://salempress.com/store/pdfs/earth_surface.pdf

2.      Climate change in Switzerland. (n.d.). Retrieved March 04, 2017, from http://www.climatechangepost.com/switzerland/climate-change/