As global temperatures continue to rise, the Alps—Europe’s iconic mountain range—are facing an invisible but growing threat: earthquakes. While much of the focus around climate change has been on wildfires, droughts, and floods, new research shows that warming can also increase the risk of seismic activity in mountainous regions.
A study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has revealed a link between glacial melt and a notable rise in microearthquakes in the Alps, particularly following a powerful heatwave in 2015. Though these microseisms are too weak to cause damage, their increased frequency could signal a heightened risk of more powerful quakes in the future.
A Hidden Chain Reaction Beneath the Ice
The research, led by scientists at ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), focused on data collected from a sensitive seismograph installed on the Grandes Jorasses peak—part of the Mont Blanc massif in the western Alps. The analysis showed a clear increase in microseismic activity since the 2015 heatwave, which caused significant glacial melting.
The study suggests that as glaciers melt, water infiltrates deep into the ground through rock fissures. When this water fills the tiny pores in subsurface rocks, it increases pressure, potentially triggering the movement of geological faults.
The researchers warn that the Alpine region is capable of producing destructive earthquakes of up to magnitude 6 on the Richter scale.
Climate-Driven Earthquakes: A Broader Pattern
Scientists have long understood the role of water in seismic activity. In places like eastern Taiwan, for example, fault lines have been observed to shift in response to seasonal rainfall. Seismic events have also been triggered by human activity, such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and high-pressure water injection at geothermal plants.
In the Mont Blanc region, the phenomenon is already partially seasonal—microearthquakes typically increase each autumn as some ice melts. But the new data shows that climate change is amplifying this pattern.
The further the meltwater seeps into the Earth, the stronger the seismic response. The Mont Blanc tunnel excavation project, which spans 11 kilometers beneath the mountain, revealed extensive fault networks that could act as conduits for glacial water, reaching deep fault zones capable of producing larger tremors.
With the global average temperature now 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the acceleration of glacial melt is expected to continue. This study adds a new layer to the risks posed by climate change, particularly in alpine and high-altitude regions.
