Rapid Ice Loss: Switzerland's Glaciers Shrink at Alarming Rate

Glaciers in Switzerland have lost a staggering 10% of their ice volume in just two years due to low snowfall and soaring temperatures, causing unprecedented melting. The ice loss in 2022 and 2023 is second only to the record set in 2022, and Swiss glaciers have lost as much ice in these two years as they did in the three decades between 1960 and 1990. The accelerated melting is attributed to climate change. The shrinking glaciers have led to collapsing glacier tongues, disappearing small glaciers, and dangerous conditions with unstable rock threatening rockslides. While the water runoff from the melting glaciers has temporarily relieved drought conditions and filled hydropower reservoirs, it will aggravate water scarcity during heatwaves in the future. The long-term outlook for Switzerland's glaciers is alarming, with experts predicting massive shrinkage and retreat to the highest mountain peaks.