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TRAINING (2.5.1)
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Starting with the origin of Switzerland's abundant water resources, the high amount of precipitation in the Alps, the web portal explains relevant hydrological, water management, social and environmental aspects of water.more

Image: thomasfuer, photocase.demore

Shrinking glaciers

The melting of Switzerland’s glaciers has been observed for many years. Since the end of the Little Ice Age around 1850, the volume of glaciers in Switzerland has decreased by more than half. As temperatures increase, glaciers melt faster and precipitation falls more often as rain than as snow. When glaciers melt, the important “glacial reservoir” of the water balance changes.

At the moment, glaciers are not in equilibrium with the current climate conditions. Were the climate to remain as it is today, the glaciers would continue to shrink over the next several decades to half of their current volume. However, experts expect an increase in temperature of 3°C by the year 2085 (plus or minus one degree). This warming will have severe repercussions for Swiss glaciers: according to models, only 20 to 30% of the current glacier volume will remain by 2100. Most of the remaining glacier volume will be in the Rhone catchment area, thanks to the largest glacier in Switzerland, the Aletsch.

Evolution of the volume of water stored in Swiss glaciers (Rhone and Rhine river basins, Engadine and Ticino). Since the end of the Little Ice Age around 1850, the glacier volume has decreased by half. More than 70% of the remaining volume should be gone by the end of this century. FOEN, 2012.
Evolution of the volume of water stored in Swiss glaciers (Rhone and Rhine river basins, Engadine and Ticino). Since the end of the Little Ice Age around 1850, the glacier volume has decreased by half. More than 70% of the remaining volume should be gone by the end of this century. FOEN, 2012.Image: OFEV 2012
Evolution of the volume of water stored in Swiss glaciers (Rhone and Rhine river basins, Engadine and Ticino). Since the end of the Little Ice Age around 1850, the glacier volume has decreased by half. More than 70% of the remaining volume should be gone by the end of this century. FOEN, 2012.
Evolution of the volume of water stored in Swiss glaciers (Rhone and Rhine river basins, Engadine and Ticino). Since the end of the Little Ice Age around 1850, the glacier volume has decreased by half. More than 70% of the remaining volume should be gone by the end of this century. FOEN, 2012.Image: OFEV 2012
Gletscher
Gletscher
Gletscher
Gletscher

Events, News, Publications

Glacier de la Plaine Morte BE.
  • Press release

And Swiss glaciers continue to melt

Glacial melting in Switzerland was once again enormous in 2025. A winter with low snow depth combined with heat waves in June and August led to a loss of three

Image: Matthias Huss

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