The glaciers have never melted as much as this summer, according to the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (Glamos). A total of around three cubic kilometers of ice have been lost in this country since the beginning of this year – this corresponds to six percent of the entire glacier volume. The previous record from the hot summer of 2003 was exceeded by far. Matthias Huss, a glaciologist at ETH and head of Glamos, says he had a hunch that things were going in this direction. “We hardly had any snow in winter and it was a very hot summer.” Nevertheless, the current numbers surprised him: “In some places, we lost six meters of ice. That’s more than double what we’ve ever measured before.”

Matthias Huss – EHA Zurich

683 NEW LAKES AND THEIR POTENTIAL

When glaciers disappear, lakes remain. According to an ETH study, around 200 new lakes will be created in the Alps by 2050. By 2100 it could be between 240 and 683, depending on the climate scenario. These lakes could pose a risk of flooding for the valleys and nearby villages, says ETH glaciologist Matthias Huss. “A lake that erupts at 3000 meters has a greater impact than one in the lowlands. It, therefore, requires good monitoring, early warning systems, and, if necessary, structural measures.

1332 GLACIER LOST

In the penultimate inventory from 1973, Switzerland counted 2,732 glaciers. In 2016 there were still 1,400. So far, mainly smaller, nameless glaciers have been lost, says ETH glaciologist Matthis Huss. But now more enormous glaciers are also affected.” 

Measurements on the Pizol glacier SG, the Vadretdal -Corvatsch GR, and the Schwarzbachfirn UR were discontinued this summer because they have practically disappeared.

BIS 2050 ZU NETTO-NULL – WAS BRINGT DAS?

It is impossible to keep the glaciers at their current size, says ETH glaciologist Matthias Huss. “If we manage to stop emitting greenhouse gases worldwide from 2050, we could save about a third of the glacier ice in the Alps.” On the other hand, if we do not succeed in stopping global warming, the Schweiz glaciers could have disappeared by the end of the century

Here are some interesting names and terminology

FEEDING AREA

This is the uppermost part of a glacier, where new ice is formed every year from the snow that does not melt in the summer.

FIRN

Snow that has survived a summer is called firn. Over several years, firn gradually turns into glacial ice.

MORAINE

This refers to material, mostly rubble and rubble, which is transported and deposited by the glacier. When the glacier retreats, crescent-shaped terminal moraines remain.

COLUMNS

A glacier is like a frozen river that flows slowly down the valley. It does not flow at the same speed everywhere, for example, the friction is greater at the edge of the glacier, which is why it flows more slowly here than in the middle.

DEAD ICE

This is a mass of ice that has separated from the glacier and no longer participates in the movements of the “living” glacier.

PERMA FROST

The subsoil of stone, boulders, or rubble that has frozen continuously for at least two years is referred to as permafrost. If it thaws, the ground can become unstable, and rockfalls, mudslides, or landslides are more frequent.

GLACIER MILK

the milky-white to greyish meltwater is called glacier milk. The turbidity is caused by a finely ground rock that is transported in the water.

Story by Deborah Bischof and Marlies Seifert – Migros Magazine -Oct.2022