Can sheep save the glaciers? Swiss scientists put wool to the test
Researchers said the wool covers matched synthetic tarpaulins in limiting melt, while offering a biodegradable use for discarded Swiss wool.
- In late June, the Summit Foundation and the University of Lausanne launched the Keep it Wool project at the Tsanfleuron Glacier, testing sheep wool blankets as a biodegradable alternative to synthetic covers for slowing glacial melting.
- Synthetic tarpaulins used to reduce heat absorption often shed polluting microfibres, prompting researchers to seek a biodegradable alternative using Swiss wool, which is frequently discarded.
- Measurements taken every two weeks showed the wool covers limited melting as well as the synthetic ones, with initial observations from the 200 square metre experiment at Glacier 3000 exceeding expectations.
- Fisolan's Niklaus Saegesser said he was surprised by the material's durability, noting, "I thought it wouldn't be stable enough," while Elliot Gaffiot said the team now has "a result we can see and touch."
- Currently, such textiles cover only around 0.02% of the total glacier area, and the Summit Foundation warns that protective sheets alone cannot stop glacier retreat, meaning reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains the only meaningful long-term solution.
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31 Articles
While Switzerland is struggling to keep the melting of glaciers under control, its researchers are conducting an unusual experiment in the Alps to see if one of the least appreciated natural resources could be helpful: sheep's wool, Reuters reports.
Can sheep save the glaciers? Swiss scientists put wool to the test
As Switzerland struggles to contain the shrinking of its glaciers, researchers are conducting an unusual experiment in the Alps to see whether one of its less valued natural resources can help: sheep’s wool.
A remarkable method is being tested to protect rapidly melting glaciers in the Swiss Alps. A section of the Tsanfleuron Glacier has been covered with sheets made of sheep's wool, and initial measurements have shown that the natural material significantly reduces ice loss during the summer months.
As Switzerland strives to limit the melting of its glaciers due to global warming, researchers conduct an unusual experiment in the Alps to see if one of the country's natural resources can be of help: sheep's wool, reports Reuters. For years, synthetic prelates have been sitting over ice zones and...
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