Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Switzerland is struggling to stop glaciers in the Alps mountain range from melting. Thus, researchers are trying to see if sheep’s wool can protect ice from melting during the summer.
For years, reflective tarpaulins have been laid over ice and snow to reduce heat absorption in the summer. But these tarpaulins are typically made from plastic and can shed polluting microfibres.
Instead, the “Keep It Wool” project is using wool to slow the melting of the Tsanfleuron Glacier. The team wanted to explore a biodegradable alternative using Swiss wool that would otherwise have been discarded.
In June, two prototype wool blankets were laid on the Tsanfleuron Glacier. Early results showed the wool covers limited melting as well as the synthetic ones would.
Still, scientists stress that lowering greenhouse gas emissions is the only meaningful long-term way to slow the loss of glaciers.
