Images that worry: the largest glacier in the Swiss Alps is melting

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Over the past decade, the approximately 80 square kilometer glacier of ice and rock has lost 1.5 meters in thickness each year.
Over the past decade, the approximately 80 square kilometer glacier of ice and rock has lost 1.5 meters in thickness each year.FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

Aletsch, which contains 20% of the total ice volume in Switzerland’s 1,800 glaciers, has seen a cubic kilometer of ice melt during the same period. “Change is happening very, very quickly,” says Huss.

The 41-year-old researcher heads the Glacier Monitoring Network (Glamos), a scientific network that documents the reduction of Swiss glaciers due to global warming.
The 41-year-old researcher heads the Glacier Monitoring Network (Glamos), a scientific network that documents the reduction of Swiss glaciers due to global warming.
FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

“Glaciers are truly a giant, visible thermometer,” he comments after noting that it is “much more heartbreaking to see a glacier lose volume and thickness than to look at a graph of rising temperatures. “.

"The glaciers are magnificent", comments on the sometimes emotional reaction of people when they reflect on the decline and future demise of these ice formations.
“Glaciers are beautiful,” he says, commenting on the sometimes emotional reaction people have when they reflect on the decline and future demise of these ice formations.
FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

Glamos scientists monitor around 20 Swiss glaciers each year and have found that since 2010, the frequency of years of extreme ice loss has accelerated dramatically.

One of those years was 2011, the next was 2015, then 2017, 2018 and 2019. They all broke ice loss records.

Although 2020 was not a year of extremes, Swiss glaciers lost 2% of their total volume and this year the negative trend could continue, despite heavy snowfall and a relatively cold winter, said Huss.
Although 2020 was not a year of extremes, Swiss glaciers lost 2% of their total volume and this year the negative trend could continue, despite heavy snowfall and a relatively cold winter, said Huss.FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

Global warming is advancing so quickly that several small glaciers have already disappeared.

In September 2019, Huss participated in a symbolic funeral for the Pizol Glacier in northeastern Switzerland, 2,700 meters above sea level."Since then we stopped monitoring Pizol, it no longer makes sense"Huss lamented.
In September 2019, Huss participated in the symbolic funeral at the Pizol Glacier in northeastern Switzerland, at an altitude of 2,700 meters. “Since then, we have stopped monitoring Pizol, it no longer makes sense,” lamented Huss.FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP
Huss has been fascinated by huge ice formations since his childhood, when he visited the gigantic Gorner Glacier near Zermatt.
Huss has been fascinated by huge ice formations since his childhood, when he visited the gigantic Gorner Glacier near Zermatt.
FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

He plans to collect two final samples in the coming weeks, although he acknowledges that “after that it will be really the end”. He is convinced that Pizol will not be the last glacier to melt completely. “In the next 10 to 20 years, other known glaciers will certainly disappear,” he lamented.

Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss performs ice measurements on the Aletsch Glacier
Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss performs ice measurements on the Aletsch GlacierFABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

Given Huss’s love for glaciers, one might think it is sad to document their rapid demise. “It’s true that as a human being, it’s depressing,” he admits. “But as a scientist it is very interesting to see and analyze such rapid changes.”

After walking for hours through the mountain and a vast expanse of white, Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss crouches near the center of the massive glacier and checks the measurements
After walking for hours through the mountain and a vast expanse of white, Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss crouches near the center of the massive glacier and checks the measurementsFABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

Huss hopes that scientific measurements on the state of glaciers can lead to concrete action. “I have the impression that there has been a real change in the way we think about politics (…) a lot of people are now saying that we have to act,” he said. Although there are more and more action plans, Huss insists that “at some point they will have to be turned into something real.”

View of the Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps
View of the Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the AlpsFABRICE COFFRINI – AFP
Climate change is wreaking havoc on all of the planet's glaciers
Climate change is wreaking havoc on all of the planet’s glaciersFABRICE COFFRINI – AFP
Glaciologist Matthias Huss
Glaciologist Matthias Huss FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP

Photos: AFP / Fabrice Coffrin

Photo edition: Fernanda Corbani

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