Devastating year for Switzerland’s glaciers
Swiss glaciers lost more than 5 % of their volume in 2026, the highest melt rate recorded, following a winter with exceptionally little snow and a summer marked by record-breaking heatwaves. Over the past five years, nearly 20 % of Switzerland’s total glacier volume has disappeared, and several smaller glaciers have vanished completely. The findings, based on GLAMOS data reported by the Swiss Academy of Sciences, highlight the rapid retreat of glaciers such as the Rhône, Aletsch, and Clariden.
Swiss glaciers lost more than 5 % of their volume in 2026, the highest melt rate recorded, following a winter with exceptionally little snow and a summer marked by record-breaking heatwaves. Over the past five years, nearly 20 % of Switzerland’s total glacier volume has disappeared, and several smaller glaciers have vanished completely. The findings, based on GLAMOS data reported by the Swiss Academy of Sciences, highlight the rapid retreat of glaciers such as the Rhône, Aletsch, and Clariden.
The data provides a critical resource for Swiss AI researchers developing climate models and predictive tools.
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