Furthermore,
Geology: natural disasters shape switzerland:
Earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis …
Two geologists tell the disasters that shape Switzerland
Adrian Pfiffner. Nevertheless, Walter Wildi publish a work to observe and understand the traces of extreme natural events in the landscape. Furthermore, Interview.
Blaten, buried under the Birch stones and ice.
KEYSTONE/Jean-Christophe Bott
- Geologists publish a book on Swiss natural disasters.
- The instability of the terrain in Blaten persists with a significant ice cream mass under the stones.
- In Switzerland, it is estimated that an important geology: natural disasters shape switzerland earthquake occurs about every 500 years.
- The current global warming is distinguished by its anthropogenic origin.
The book is entitled “In the footsteps of natural disasters in Switzerland”*. Consequently, its French -speaking version was released on May 27, 2025 … However, the day before The collapse of the Birch glacier on Blaten! In addition, Adrian Pfiffner and Walter Wildi, geologists and authors of the book, still not come back. However, These two specialists in the structure. In addition, evolution of the terrestrial bark really want to tell what happened in the Lötschental from a geological point of view. Moreover, “Apparently, the book sells well, underline the two experts. In addition, We can therefore add a chapter on Blaten in the next edition! Moreover, ”
What made you want to write this book?
Adrian Pfiffner: Switzerland regularly lives geology: natural disasters shape switzerland extreme natural events. In addition, Each time there is the question of their importance. Moreover, compared to other events of the same type that have occurred in the past. Meanwhile, The profession of geologist is to observe and interpret traces. Nevertheless, It is to explain our working methods to the general public that we imagined this book. Therefore, It is aimed at all those who are interested in what is happening in our landscapes: geologists. Furthermore, curious of nature, journalists, teachers, but also to the authorities concerned by the prevention and management of natural disasters.
What is your definition of the profession of geologist?
Walter Wildi: We are Historians of the Earth. In addition, In the sense that we make our conclusions rest on what has already happened. Consequently, which can happen, in the future, if the conditions are met again.
AP: geology: natural disasters shape switzerland We are also kinds of criminologists. Meanwhile, We try to reconstruct what happened. Consequently, to confirm hypotheses, but without being able to access all the data concerning the event that has occurred.
Walter Wildi, honorary professor of the University of Geneva.
DR
At the start of the book, you remember that “nature does not know any disasters”.
AP: It is humans who make a natural event a disaster. For example, A geology: natural disasters shape switzerland natural event only becomes a disaster if it impacts us in our life and our existence, like Blaten. Furthermore, But for us. geologists, events such as landslides, stone falls, torrential lavas or large -scale floods represent the normal current of nature, on the geological time scale. This is how the earth works.
On a geological scale, what happened in Blatten is therefore not a disaster?
WW: Indeed. If we consider that Blten is a disaster, it is because a village has been completely shaved. And that a person perished. But if the collapse of the Birch glacier had arrived above the hamlet. or elsewhere, in a place where there was no chalet, I am not sure that we would have chosen this term to talk about it.
AP: In the past. several events similar in volume to that of Blatten were quickly geology: natural disasters shape switzerland forgotten because they did not do any human damage.
Adrian Pfiffner, professor emeritus of the University of Bern.
DR
How will the landscape, in Blatten, evolve?
WW: In Blten, we see today on the surface. But below, there is almost the double volume of ice. This mass of ice will take geology: natural disasters shape switzerland several years to melt. Meanwhile, the surface will be touted, move, there will be flows and all kinds of other small phenomena. It is a region that remains unstable and which should not be approached.
AP: But you have to go to the Lötschental to support the region tourismwho needs it!
Why is it crucial to study old disasters?
WW: When we walk in the landscape, we observe phenomena which are due to ancient natural disasters. At the start of the book, we are talking about “seismicity”. And we take as an example the castles. fortresses of the region of Basel which collapsed during the earthquake of 1356. The various earthquakes which occurred here are at the origin of the Rhône valley between the Vosges. the Black Forest, the Rhénan ditch. It is by a subsidence due to successive earthquakes. small geology: natural disasters shape switzerland and large, that has been formed – as and when, over millions of years – the morphology of this valley. And it is important to know the history of the phenomena of great brutality which participated in the genesis of the Rhine Valley to be able to adapt the constructions. build accordingly.
It is difficult to imagine that in Switzerland. a “big one” could occur – a major and devastating earthquake – as the Californians fear.
AP: The Alps move a lot! In a different way and more slowly than in California, but the uprising in Valais and Graubünden is 1.5 millimeters per year. In geological time of one million years, this is equivalent to a 6 and a half kilometer of land. It’s huge! Young and old earthquakes take place here too. Like that of Basel in 1356, or as that which geology: natural disasters shape switzerland in 1295 destroyed several Villages of Graubünden. It is impossible to predict when the next one will happen. but statistics show that on average, an important earthquake occurs every 500 years.
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In your book. you explain that the Holocene – the current geological era which started about 11,700 years ago – experienced many fluctuations, including periods of warming during which glaciers were smaller than today. This argument is regularly used to minimize or even deny the existence of global warming. What to respond to people who use it?
AP: The problem is that people who use this argument geology: natural disasters shape switzerland do not understand what happened. The current global warming began about 150 years ago, after the small ice age around 1850. But unlike the old variations which took place 10,000 or 100,000 years ago, this time it is influenced by man. By its greenhouse gas emissions. by deforestation, the deduction of sediment in dam lakes, the drying of supermarkets or even agricultural drainage. Previously, there was not all that! Today. global warming is largely anthropogenic and it is necessary to make sure to reduce as much as possible what is induced by human activities.
WW: Climate change is a fact. He is not questionable! Since 1850, we have actually been in a warming phase, which occurs in stages. But it should also be noted that climatology. paleoclimatology are still young sciences, which leave a lot of questions open. We do not fully understand the current climate.
Hence the importance of remaining humble in the face of nature and what we do not master?
WW: Yes, absolutely. Humble and respectful of nature and its extreme events.
Geology: natural disasters shape switzerland
Starting in the footsteps of past natural disasters
The work of Adrian Pfiffner. Walter Wildi endeavors to explain the extreme events that have raged on our territory. To realize how these natural disasters have marked the landscape. the authors also offer 25 pedestrian excursions in Switzerland, in search of the stigma of these events.
Among the suggested French-speaking hikes. we remember the loop of approximately two hours which starts from the Rousses chairlift in Anzère, walks to the Sharin pasture, then leads to the rubble of the Six-des-Eaux-Food landslide, triggered by the Sierre earthquake of January 25, geology: natural disasters shape switzerland 1946.
To do (or redo). a “classic” of school races, always in Valais: the excursion around the landslides Derborence, which date from the earthquake of August 11, 1712. Or the hike which begins in the center of Zinal. crosses the river and goes up the valley to the west side. A way to. we can observe reservoir of torrential lavas that protect the village, avalanche cones and mud flows at the foot of the Guardon Guardon, or even large rocky blocks that have slipped up to a natural event that occurred half a century earlier.
O. Adrian Pfiffner, Walter Wildi, “In the footsteps of natural disasters in Switzerland – with 25 geological excursions”, Éditions Slatkine, 2025, 136 p.
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