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Glaciers across the Alps and Pyrenees are facing record melting this year, as western Europe endures its third heatwave since May, with scientists warning that 2026 could rival or surpass the historic ice loss recorded in 2022.
The Grande Motte Glacier, located at an elevation of 3,456 meters in the French Alps, has seen large sections of snow cover disappear, exposing grey ice and deep crevasses beneath.
Weeks of extreme heat have stripped away the glacier's protective snow layer, accelerating the melting process and leaving the ice more vulnerable to further loss.
Scientists monitoring the region say the pace of melting this summer is comparable to, or even faster than, the record-breaking season of 2022.
Crevasses once hidden beneath snow are now clearly visible, offering a stark visual record of how quickly the glacier's mass is shrinking.
Researchers attribute the accelerated melt to repeated heatwaves sweeping across western Europe, which have pushed temperatures well above seasonal norms at high altitudes.
The Alps and Pyrenees, home to some of Europe's most important glaciers, are considered key indicators of the broader impact of climate change on the continent's mountain ecosystems.
Experts warn that if current melting trends continue, some glaciers in the region could lose significant portions of their remaining ice mass before the end of the summer.
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