Swiss Glacier Shrinks 10% In 5 Years, Melting At 'Record Levels'

Switzerland’s glaciers have lost a tenth of their volume in the past five years alone, an unprecedented melting rate in a century, revealed a study on October 15.

The report revealed that 20 Swiss glaciers have melting rate have reached “record levels”, according to a study published by the Cryospheric Commission at the Swiss Academy of Sciences this year.

The study released amid growing concerns over climate change found that intense heatwaves over the summer in Switzerland destroyed the hopes of a snow-filled winter that would limit the glacier melt this year.

The researchers said that in April and May, the snow cover on the glaciers was 20% and 40% higher than usual, with 6 metres deep in some places till June.

However, two weeks of unabated heat at the end of June and again in late July resulted in melting of Swiss glaciers which were equivalent to the country’s total annual consumption of drinking water. The thick snow layer continued to melt until September.

“This means that, over the past 12 months, around two percent of Switzerland’s total glacier volume has been lost,” the commission noted. The report highlighted that the rate of glacier meltdown over the past five years had exceeded by 10 per cent.

The report comes on the heels of the historic “funeral march” which was undertaken to mark the disappearance of the Pizol glacier, one of more than 500 glaciers to have meltdown from the Swiss Alps since the beginning of 20th Century.

Another study revealed that more than 90% of some 4,000 glaciers dotted over the Alps could disappear by the end of this century if greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed.

Also Read: Iceland Holds Funeral Of Glacier Lost To Climate Change