Switzerland's scenic glaciers undergo 'massive ice loss,' experts deem it 'catastrophic'

Record high summer heat and poor winter snowfalls have cost Switzerland 10% of its total glaciers, according to new research. Experts have described event as "catastrophic," given that Switzerland is home to most glaciers in any nation across European continent, as per Sky News.

country witnessed 4% of its total glacier volume vanish in 2023, marking  second-biggest drop in a single year. Last year, it lost 6% of its total glacier volume. In se 24 months, it has lost as much ice as it did in three deces before 1990, as per researchers. 

A team of scientists from  Glacier Monitoring Switzerland (GLAMOS) cited  "massive ice loss" to a winter with extremely low levels of snow, which is essential for glaciers. By falling on top, snow protects glaciers from direct sun exposure and scorching hot temperatures. 

ice melt has impacted entirety of Switzerland, including Alps. most affected glaciers include those in sourn and eastern regions. At one point, GLAMOS team was forced to stop its monitoring operations due to large quantities of ice melting.

How b is it? GLAMOS team le explains 

Matthias Huss, who les GLAMOS, documented lakes that have formed next to glaciers and how water that once was ice has me its way down from ice caves. Images shared by him on social media also feature rocks being bare due to thinning and disappearing of ice.

"This year was very problematic for glaciers because re was really little snow in winter, and summer was very warm. combination of se two factors is worst that can happen to glaciers," he said, ding climate crisis has also furr aggravated issue. 

In some areas, corpses that were once lost have been discovered by authorities as ice sheets dissipated. "Melting of several metres was measured in sourn Valais (region) and Engin valley at a level above 3,200 metres (10,500ft), an altitude at which glaciers h until recently preserved ir equilibrium,"  team said.