Stunning Meltdown: Switzerland's Glaciers Melt Away a Whopping 10% of Their Mass in Only Two Years!

Switzerland's glaciers are rapidly shrinking, with a staggering 10% of their ice volume disappearing in just two years. The unprecedented melting is a result of both reduced snowfall and soaring temperatures. New data from the Swiss Commission for Cryosphere Observation of the Swiss Academy of Sciences reveal that in 2023, the country's glaciers lost 4% of their total volume, the second-highest melting level following the record set in 2022 when 6% of glaciers were destroyed.

Swiss glaciers have lost an equivalent amount of ice in just two years, as they did over a three-decade period from 1960 to 1990, highlighting the magnitude of the current losses. Matthias Huss, the head of the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (GLAMOS), expressed astonishment at the unprecedented ice loss witnessed in 2022 and 2023, stating that it surpasses anything previously observed. GLAMOS collaborates with the Swiss Academy of Sciences to collect and analyze glacier data.

"Although glaciers have been steadily and rapidly losing mass for several decades, the rate of this decline is astonishing," he informed CNN. He further emphasized that these extreme conditions "would not have been possible without the influence of climate change."

Ice on the Vadret dal Murtèl glacier melted rapidly even in mid-September at an altitude of 3,100 meters (10,170 feet).

Matthias Huss/GLAMOS

The collapsing of glacier tongues and the disappearance of numerous small glaciers in the country have been a result of the extreme years. In central Switzerland's Uri canton, the St. Annafirn glacier has significantly reduced in size, to the point that monitoring by GLAMOS has ceased.

Unusually, even at high altitudes where declines are infrequent, ice loss has been documented. GLAMOS reports that several meters of ice have vanished at altitudes exceeding 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) in southern Valais and the Engadin valley.

Glaciers throughout the country have experienced losses due to a winter characterized by exceptionally low snowfall. In the latter half of February, snow levels dropped to a historic low, measuring approximately 30% of the long-term average. Subsequently, an abnormally hot and dry June resulted in accelerated snow melting, occurring two to four weeks ahead of the usual timeframe, as reported by GLAMOS.

In August, MétéoSuisse, the national meteorological service, launched a weather balloon that reached an altitude of 5,298 meters (17,382 feet) before reaching 0 degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit) - the highest "zero degree" line recorded to date. The elevated temperatures persisted throughout September, causing rapid melting of summer snowfalls.

The disappearance of the ice ridge at the Piz Murtèl in Grisons, Switzerland.

Matthias Huss/GLAMOS

The huge glacier melt of the last two years has stark implications. It "means a significant re-shaping of the high-alpine landscape," Huss said.

The unstable rock poses a threat by creating hazardous conditions, including the risk of rockslides. Additionally, receding glaciers have resulted in unsettling findings. For instance, in July, the body of a German mountain climber who disappeared 37 years ago while trekking near Switzerland's renowned Matterhorn glacier was finally found.

There are temporary benefits as the country has experienced relief from the severity of the drought and its hydropower reservoirs have been replenished, thanks to the water runoff from the glaciers, according to Huss.

Melting ice reveals remains of a German climber lost on a glacier in Switzerland 37 years ago.

Valais Cantonal Police/Kantonspolizei Wallis

Melting ice uncovers the remains of a climber who was lost on a glacier 37 years ago. However, this advantage is temporary and fleeting," he stated. Glaciers are diminishing at a rapid pace, losing their crucial ability to provide water when it is most needed. "This will exacerbate water shortage during heatwaves in the coming years," Huss warned.

Switzerland's glaciers face a worrisome future. According to Huss, they will continue to shrink and recede towards the highest peaks of the Alps. Swiss voters recently passed a law aimed at reducing planet-warming pollution, responding to climate groups' call to end fossil fuel usage to protect the glaciers.

However, with climate change fast approaching, time is running out. Recent studies reveal that even if we manage to achieve our ambitious climate goals, approximately half of the world's glaciers could vanish by the close of this century.