A fifth of Swiss Alpine ice has vanished in five years
3 hours ago
- Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of their volume in 2026, with ice thickness decreasing by 2.5 to 4 meters in some areas.
- Over the past five years, the volume of ice in the Swiss Alps has fallen by almost 20%.
- Extreme melting events that were once rare now occur nearly every summer due to rapid climate warming.
- Low winter snowfall and high summer temperatures (0°C isotherm above 4,000m for 76 days) drove the losses.
- At least 30 small Swiss glaciers disappeared in 2026, including the Plattalva Glacier.
- Without drastic emission reductions, half of Alpine glaciers could vanish within 20 years.
- Glacier melt currently mitigates summer water shortages but will decline after 'peak water' is reached.