In September the lowest depth of snow was measured on the Great Aletsch Glacier since measurements began 100 years ago
Keystone
The volume of Swiss glaciers continued to decline significantly this summer, drastically changing the image of the Alps. At low altitudes, last winter saw less snow than ever before.
In the past decade glacier melt has been strongest since observations began, the Cryospheric Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences reported on Friday. This loss will continue in 2020 but it will not be equally dramatic throughout the country.
At the beginning of May the snow on the glaciers corresponded to the average of the past ten years, the commission said.
“However, snow on glacier tongues became depleted early, and the melt reached very high values. In September 2020, the lowest depth of snow was measured on the Great Aletsch Glacier close to the Jungfraujoch since measurements began 100 years ago,” it said.
More
More
Dramatic photos show glacial retreat
This content was published on
A Swiss photographer programmed a drone using glacial data and set it on a course to map out how glaciers have retreated over the past 140 years.
The situation of most glaciers was not as serious as the period from 2017 to 2019. “Nevertheless, almost 2% of the total glacier volume has been lost throughout Switzerland over the past 12 months.”
Measurements of winter snowfall and melt on more than 20 glaciers in all parts of the country showed significant differences in losses.
While low-lying, flat glaciers recorded an average reduction of two metres in ice thickness, glaciers at high altitudes in the southern Valais as well as in Ticino and Engadine lost only about 50 centimetres in thickness. This is due to a lot of snow in early winter and snowfall in summer, according to the scientists.
Changing landscape
The commission said that since 1960 the amount of water lost by Swiss glaciers could have filled Lake Constance. This has significantly changed the landscape of the Alps.
“Glacier forelands are growing, and new mountain lakes are being created. Individual small glaciers had to be removed from the monitoring network due to their disintegration,” it explained.
“The retreat of the glacier also creates dangers, as impressively illustrated by the ice break-off at the Turtmann Glacier in Valais and the emptying of the glacial lake on Plaine Morte, canton Bern.”
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
Swiss martyr beatified in Barcelona by Catholic Church
This content was published on
François-Benjamin May (1870-1909), a member of the Marist Brothers congregation, has been recognised as a 'blessed' by the Catholic Church.
Prevention and tech could help save billions on Swiss healthcare costs, says Deloitte
This content was published on
By focusing on prevention and technology, it would be possible to reduce Switzerland's healthcare bill by CHF30 billion a year by 2040, according to Deloitte Switzerland.
Environment director warns of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland
This content was published on
The director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has warned of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland in an interview with SonntagsBlick on Sunday.
Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season
This content was published on
The start of the summer holidays saw a long traffic jam in front of the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday. Traffic jams between Erstfeld and Göschenen in canton Uri were up to 11 kilometres long early in the morning.
Scientist predicts 30% of Swiss glacier ice could be saved
This content was published on
If the Paris climate accord is implemented, up to one-third of all ice stored in larger Swiss glaciers could be saved, a top glaciologist predicts.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.