ScienceTop StoryTop StoryLatest News
Nearly 20% of Switzerland’s glacier ice has vanished in just five years
Sentiment: NeutralHigh Priority
What Happened?
Switzerland's glaciers lost over 5% of their ice volume in 2026, with significant thinning recorded. Major glaciers like Rhône and Aletsch faced severe melting, and some smaller glaciers disappeared entirely.
Key points
- In 2026, glaciers in Switzerland thinned by an average of 2.5 to 4 meters.
- Some glaciers lost up to 10 meters of ice, with Bella Tola and Griessfirn disappearing completely.
- Switzerland has lost nearly 20% of its glacier ice volume in the past five years.
- The winter of 2025 to 2026 was among the least snowy on record, exacerbating melting.
- Glaciers released approximately 2.2 trillion liters of water between July and September 2026.
Key insights
- The significant ice loss could lead to increased water shortages in the future.
- The disappearance of smaller glaciers indicates a broader trend of climate change effects in Switzerland.
- Continued glacier melting may affect local ecosystems and biodiversity.
Why it matters
The rapid loss of glacier ice impacts water supply and highlights the effects of climate change.
Entities
Switzerland· CountryRhône· GlacierAletsch· GlacierClariden· GlacierBella Tola· GlacierGriessfirn· GlacierETH Zurich· UniversitySwiss Academy of Sciences· Organization
Source
Science Daily
