"Vibrating and noisily shaking occurs within a short span"
In a stark reminder of the impact of climate change, the Ice Chapel, a well-known geological feature in Bavaria's National Park, has collapsed. This iconic attraction, once considered one of the 100 most significant geological features in the region, is now a symbol of accelerating climate change.
Since 1953, the Ice Chapel has been losing almost a million cubic meters of firn ice, with its area halving between 2019 and 2022 from 37,800 to 18,900 square meters. This massive retreat was documented by Andreas Wolf, a member of the Mountain Rescue and chairman of the Association of German Cave and Karst Researchers, who has been accompanying the measurements since 1994.
The collapse of the Ice Chapel has created new risks, with massive rockfalls threatening in the ice gully. Large blocks are detaching from the moraine hangings and sliding downhill due to the collapse. The National Park Director, Roland Baier, described the loss as "depressing and shocking."
The Ice Chapel was a popular attraction and a scientifically valuable object. It was visited by Alexander von Humboldt in 1797. Today, the National Park collaborates closely with the German Weather Service (DWD) and the Virtual Alpine Observatory (VAO) to study climate change effects on glaciers, notably the last remaining ice at the Watzmann East Face. The National Park operates a dense network of measurement stations and has conducted environmental monitoring for over 30 years, making it a key site for high-mountain climate research.
Experts, including cave researcher Andreas Wolf, had warned of a collapse for a long time. The collapse of the Ice Chapel is a "clear visible evidence of the changes that climate change brings to the area," as stated by Baier. The National Park strongly warns hikers not to enter the remains of the Ice Chapel due to acute rockfall danger.
The loss of the ice masses from the Ice Chapel has made the slope less stable. The Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, which operates in the region, emphasises that the changes in the national park, including the collapse of the Ice Chapel, serve as a visible warning of what is to come. The collapse of the Ice Chapel should be viewed from a safe distance due to its fragile and increasingly dangerous state. Mountaineers are advised to inform themselves about the current situation before attempting to access the Watzmann East Face, as access has been affected due to the collapse.
In conclusion, the collapse of the Ice Chapel is a stark reminder of the effects of climate change on our natural world. It serves as a call to action for all of us to take steps to mitigate the impact of climate change and preserve our planet's unique geological features for future generations.
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