Swiss glaciers continue to retreat
Despite comparatively favorable weather conditions, Swiss glaciers have lost about 400 million tons of ice during the past 12 months – almost 1% of the remaining glacier volume. This was recently reported by the Swiss Glacier Monitoring network GLAMOS. "There was considerable precipitation in summer, but hardly any fresh snow in the Alps. All this shows the impact of climate change," states D-BAUG glaciologist Matthias Huss, who heads GLAMOS.
Konkordiaplatz on the Great Aletsch Glacier (VS) is impressive. An ice layer of 2-3 metres melted here in the summer of 2021. (Image: M. Huss)
A huge, unstable glacier mouth has formed at the Findel glacier (VS) tongue. (Image: M. Huss)
Measurement pole on the Findel glacier (VS). Its height illustrates the expected melt in the next year.
(Image: A. Linsbauer) Re-drilling of a measurement pole on the Gries glacier (VS). (Image: M. Huss) In September 2021, the Glacier de la Plaine Morte (BE) was again completely free of snow, thus its chances of survival are bleak. (Image: M. Huss)
(Image: A. Linsbauer) Re-drilling of a measurement pole on the Gries glacier (VS). (Image: M. Huss) In September 2021, the Glacier de la Plaine Morte (BE) was again completely free of snow, thus its chances of survival are bleak. (Image: M. Huss)
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