Randy Olson, Melissa Farlow Photography

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Synthetic blankets cover a Pitztal Glacial ski slope in an attempt to absorb the sun and reduce snow melt. Such drastic measures to save the Alps' retreating glaciers may prove futile. If current temperatures trends hold according to climate scientists, half the Alpine ice will be gone by 2050 and two thirds melted by 2100.
Loss of alpine glaciers would alter the region’s ecology–not to mention its economy. Workers are hired to cover the snow pack with a fleece blanket seems equivalent to putting a band-aid on a glacier.

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MELISSA FARLOW
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6000x4000 / 137.4MB
Keywords
Contained in galleries
Alps_National Geographic magazine 2/2006
Synthetic blankets cover a Pitztal Glacial ski slope in an attempt to absorb the sun and reduce snow melt. Such drastic measures to save the Alps' retreating glaciers may prove futile. If current temperatures trends hold according to climate scientists, half the Alpine ice will be gone by 2050 and two thirds melted by 2100.<br /> Loss of alpine glaciers would alter the region’s ecology–not to mention its economy. Workers are hired to cover the snow pack with a fleece blanket seems equivalent to putting a band-aid on a glacier.