Why 'rocks as big as cars' are flying down the Dolomites
17 days ago
- #Dolomites
- #Climate Change
- #Landslides
- The Trephor Tower, part of the Five Towers in the Dolomites, collapsed in 2004, signaling a trend of crumbling peaks in the region.
- Geologists like Antonio Galgaro predict future collapses by studying cracks and structural weaknesses in the mountains.
- The Dolomites, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site, are experiencing increased landslides, with events like 'rocks as big as cars' falling.
- The mountains are naturally prone to erosion due to their geological formation, including a soft clay layer beneath the dolomia stone.
- Climate change is accelerating erosion, with increased rainfall and freeze-thaw cycles fracturing rocks more rapidly.
- Scientists focus on monitoring and alerting populations rather than attempting to prevent natural erosion, emphasizing coexistence with the risk.
- Historic landslides and recent events highlight the unpredictability and frequency of rockfalls, challenging traditional models of mountain stability.
- Efforts to mitigate risks include early warnings and adjusting human activities, such as altering climbing routes to safer times.
- The Dolomites' evolving landscape, while concerning, is a natural process, with some erosion revealing hidden geological features.
- The region's designation as a natural UNESCO site underscores the inevitability of change, with human impact only partly responsible for the acceleration.