Everyone is talking about climate change, but what does it mean for the Alpine environment? Which changes can be expected? And which adaptations are necessary and realistic? The impacts of climate change pose some of the greatest threats to the Alpine mountain ecosystem. Nature reacts particularly sensitively here, because nowhere else in Europe will you find so many sensitive areas of natural landscape within such a relatively small region. In addition, in the Alps it is becoming very clear that some negative impacts of climate change can no longer be avoided. According to the latest model calculations, the Alps must anticipate a warming twice as high as the general German average. The risk of extreme weather events will increase. The Alps will be particularly affected by the impacts of climate change:
- an increase in the probability of heat waves, as in summer 2003
- an increasing trend towards heavy precipitation and floods
- an upward shift of biological zones, with many Alpine flora at risk
- glacier retreat on a massive scale
- changed risk potential of natural hazards such as rock falls
- strong decrease in the snow re- liability of many winter sport regions by Michael M
