The summer ski center at Folgefonna is melting away – now researchers want to extend their lifespan – news Vestland

The high season has started and every summer European alpinists and ski tourists flock to the ski center in Hardanger. Conditions are currently good, but in a few years the ski center on Norway’s third largest glacier will probably have to close. There is no doubt that Folgefonna is melting. The meltdown worries general manager Stian Mjelde. He has seen great changes in recent years. – If we look at the glacier now, the slope of the glacier is much shorter than it has been before. It’s because it melts, easily and simply. Also in width, the glacier is much shorter, which means that we have room for fewer people, says Mjelde. The rock has become visible Last year, the rock in the seventh tower of the ski lift became visible. No one has seen it here before. But this is nothing new for Jostein Bakke, professor of geology at the University of Bergen. He has for many years measured the glacier and seen great change. – There will be a lake here as the glacier is withdrawn. And further up the hill it is very thin. We have probably talked about whether we have a problem within five to seven years, says Bakke. There is hope for the glacier But maybe there is hope for Folgefonna. Now more researchers want to establish a research center where they can test different methods to see how the glacier responds to it. This can at best extend the life of the glacier and the ski center. Glacier Research Center: Researchers request a glacier research center. It can extend the life of the glacier and the ski center, says researcher Bakke. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese – It would have been very interesting in terms of research. We have easy access here, and we can bring students and researchers from abroad. We have artificial facilities that can manipulate the ice and the effect of it. It is very exciting, says researcher Bakke. – Sad Leoni Bertelomeus is one of the alpinists who visit the ski center every summer. For the last eight summers she has trained at the ski center here. She has seen that conditions have changed. – We have seen a change, and it is sad very sad because this is a cool place to ski, she says. HAS SEEN A CHANGE: Leoni Bertelomeus is one of many alpinists who train at the ski center. She thought it was sad if it was shut down.



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