Glaciers & permafrost

Melting permafrost threatens mountain regions. What can be done?

The Mutthorn Hut, located between Kandersteg and Lauterbrunnen in canton Bern, is one of 60 mountain huts affected by thawing permafrost.

This content was published on Mar 10, 2025 From unstable slopes to rock falls, the thawing of permafrost will have many consequences for mountain regions, including the Swiss Alps.

In Switzerland, some 6-8% of Switzerland’s territory is unstable. Settlements below permafrost zones must increasingly expect landslides and mudflows in the years ahead.

Climate solutions

How climate change is threatening permafrost’s delicate balance

This content was published on Mar 10, 2025 Permafrost is the hidden frozen “glue” – a layer formed by ice, rock and soil – that holds icy northern landscapes together.

Climate solutions

Discovering ancient microorganisms inside Swiss glaciers

This content was published on Jan 29, 2025 Follow a team of scientists on the Rhône glacier as they hunt for new – and potentially beneficial – microorganisms which are increasingly being released from the melting ice.

Scientists have successfully drilled one of the oldest ice cores yet, penetrating nearly 2 miles (2.8 kilometres) to Antarctic bedrock to reach ice they say is at least 1.2 million years old.

Glaciers & permafrost

Predicting the climate of the future with 1.2 million-year-old ice

This content was published on Jan 10, 2025 Scientists have successfully extracted one of the world's oldest ice samples from deep within Antarctica. They hope the ancient ice will reveal more about Earth’s climate history and how to better predict future climate change.

Climate solutions

Secrets revealed by melting Swiss glaciers could eat plastic and cure disease

This content was published on Jan 5, 2025 Melting glaciers release largely unknown bacteria and viruses. These microorganisms could help us tackle some major global problems, from plastic pollution to antibiotic resistance.

Alpine permafrost is present above an altitude of 2,500 metres and stabilises geologically unstable slopes. Pictured: the Schreckhorn, a Swiss mountain in the Bernese Alps.

Glaciers & permafrost

Breakthrough Swiss research decodes thawing permafrost

This content was published on Sep 2, 2024 For the first time a research team in Switzerland has measured how much of the Alpine permafrost has thawed. This helps scientists understand how climate change is affecting mountains’ permanently frozen ground.

Climate solutions

‘The only way to save glaciers is to stop global warming’

This content was published on Dec 29, 2022 Balzan Prize winner Johannes Oerlemans talks about the most important discoveries of his career and his attempt to preserve a glacier in Switzerland.

gruppo di persone che guarda un ghiacciaio

Climate solutions

For Swiss glaciers, 2022 was a ‘disastrous’ year

This content was published on Oct 5, 2022 Swiss glaciers have lost more than 6% of their volume this year. The decline smashed previous record retreats, but it was not entirely negative.

un uomo nel fiume colloca un apparecchio di misura su una roccia

Climate solutions

Swiss researchers want to unravel the mystery of the Pamir glaciers

This content was published on Jul 28, 2022 Some glaciers in Central Asia appear to be unaffected by global warming. A Swiss project is investigating why.

gente che osserva un ghiacciaio da una capanna alpina

Switzerland’s dangerous glaciers under close surveillance

This content was published on Jul 21, 2022 Sixty glaciers in Switzerland could threaten inhabited areas, roads and railways.

Glaciers & permafrost

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Glaciers & permafrost

More

Melting permafrost threatens mountain regions. What can be done?

More

How climate change is threatening permafrost’s delicate balance

More

Discovering ancient microorganisms inside Swiss glaciers

More

Predicting the climate of the future with 1.2 million-year-old ice

More

Secrets revealed by melting Swiss glaciers could eat plastic and cure disease

More

Breakthrough Swiss research decodes thawing permafrost

More

‘The only way to save glaciers is to stop global warming’

More

For Swiss glaciers, 2022 was a ‘disastrous’ year

More

Swiss researchers want to unravel the mystery of the Pamir glaciers

More

Switzerland’s dangerous glaciers under close surveillance

Popular Stories

Most Discussed