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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Scotland 'snow-free' as Sphinx patch melts again | Scotland 'snow-free' as Sphinx patch melts again |
| (8 months later) | |
| Snow expert Iain Cameron and the last remnants of the snow patch before it melted back in 2017 | Snow expert Iain Cameron and the last remnants of the snow patch before it melted back in 2017 |
| Snow expert Iain Cameron and the last remnants of the snow patch before it melted back in 2017 | |
| Scotland is completely snow-free again after a well-known patch melted for the fourth time in six years. | Scotland is completely snow-free again after a well-known patch melted for the fourth time in six years. |
| The Sphinx, in the Cairngorms, is historically the longest-lasting patch of snow in the UK. | The Sphinx, in the Cairngorms, is historically the longest-lasting patch of snow in the UK. |
| Snow expert Iain Cameron reported via social media on Friday that the famous patch had disappeared in the previous 24 hours. | Snow expert Iain Cameron reported via social media on Friday that the famous patch had disappeared in the previous 24 hours. |
| It had only melted nine times in the past 300 years. Mr Cameron said climate change was a likely factor. | It had only melted nine times in the past 300 years. Mr Cameron said climate change was a likely factor. |
| The latest headlines from Scotland, external | |
| The latest headlines from Scotland, external | |
| Read more stories from the Highlands and Islands, external | |
| Read more stories from the Highlands and Islands, external | |
| The Sphinx, on remote Braeriach, a 1,296m (4,252ft) Munro, has melted away more frequently in the last 18 years. | The Sphinx, on remote Braeriach, a 1,296m (4,252ft) Munro, has melted away more frequently in the last 18 years. |
| According to records, it previously melted fully in 1933, 1959, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2021 and now 2022. | According to records, it previously melted fully in 1933, 1959, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2021 and now 2022. |
| Before 1933, it is thought to have last melted completely in the 1700s. | Before 1933, it is thought to have last melted completely in the 1700s. |
| A picture taken on Friday shows the Sphinx snow patch is gone | A picture taken on Friday shows the Sphinx snow patch is gone |
| A picture taken on Friday shows the Sphinx snow patch is gone | |
| Mr Cameron tweeted: "So there we have it. It is confirmed that Scotland is snow-free yet again. | Mr Cameron tweeted: "So there we have it. It is confirmed that Scotland is snow-free yet again. |
| "The last patch, the Sphinx, disappeared sometime in the last 24 hours. " | "The last patch, the Sphinx, disappeared sometime in the last 24 hours. " |
| He added: "I'm not a climatologist (nor even an academic), but it's a pretty obvious direction of travel. | He added: "I'm not a climatologist (nor even an academic), but it's a pretty obvious direction of travel. |
| "The future for semi-permanent snows in Scotland looks bleak." | "The future for semi-permanent snows in Scotland looks bleak." |
| Allow Twitter content? | Allow Twitter content? |
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| Just six days ago he had made the climb to check on the patch and described it as "hanging on for dear life." | Just six days ago he had made the climb to check on the patch and described it as "hanging on for dear life." |
| Mr Cameron, based in Stirling, has been studying snow patches in Scotland for 25 years and is author of the book The Vanishing Ice, which he describes as a "lament" to snow and ice that lingers high in Scotland's hills. | Mr Cameron, based in Stirling, has been studying snow patches in Scotland for 25 years and is author of the book The Vanishing Ice, which he describes as a "lament" to snow and ice that lingers high in Scotland's hills. |
| He worked alongside the late Dr Adam Watson, a biologist dubbed Mr Cairngorms because of his many years studying the mountains. | He worked alongside the late Dr Adam Watson, a biologist dubbed Mr Cairngorms because of his many years studying the mountains. |
| Some of Dr Watson's research on the Sphinx drew on information handed down by generations of people who worked and visited the Cairngorms. | Some of Dr Watson's research on the Sphinx drew on information handed down by generations of people who worked and visited the Cairngorms. |
| Garbh Choire Mor is usually described as Scotland's snowiest corrie but it is now snow-free | Garbh Choire Mor is usually described as Scotland's snowiest corrie but it is now snow-free |
| Garbh Choire Mor is usually described as Scotland's snowiest corrie but it is now snow-free | |
| The Scottish Mountaineering Club began noting the fortunes of the patch in the 1840s and more recently scientists and ecologists have gathered information. | The Scottish Mountaineering Club began noting the fortunes of the patch in the 1840s and more recently scientists and ecologists have gathered information. |
| Separately from Mr Cameron's research, a report commissioned by Cairngorms National Park Authority , external and published in July 2020 said declining snow cover, and fewer days when it snowed had been observed on Cairngorm mountain since the winter of 1983-84. | |
| Researchers also noted a trend for increasingly warmer weather since the 1960s, and suggested that by the 2080s there would be some years with very little or no snow at all on Cairngorm. | Researchers also noted a trend for increasingly warmer weather since the 1960s, and suggested that by the 2080s there would be some years with very little or no snow at all on Cairngorm. |
| The Sphinx lies in Garbh Choire Mor, a hollow known as a corrie formed by ice or a glacier during the last ice age. | The Sphinx lies in Garbh Choire Mor, a hollow known as a corrie formed by ice or a glacier during the last ice age. |
| Garbh Choire Mor is described as Scotland's snowiest corrie because of the amount of snow it can hold even through summer months. | Garbh Choire Mor is described as Scotland's snowiest corrie because of the amount of snow it can hold even through summer months. |
| The Sphinx is the name of a climbing route near the snow patch. | The Sphinx is the name of a climbing route near the snow patch. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Snow | Snow |
| Climate | Climate |