Why Alpine debris flows are becoming more intense and unpredictable

High in the mountains, a sudden downpour can turn a quiet slope or valley into a roaring river of mud and rock within minutes. And these intense downpours are predicted to become more frequent. The man in charge of a new Swiss research institute on mountain hazards spoke to Swissinfo about how the climate crisis is reshaping risks in the Alps. Markus Stoffel holds the newly-created Chair of Mountain Hazard Research at the University of Geneva. He and other scientists warn that climate change is…