Swiss Glaciers Lose a Fifth of Their Volume in Five Years

Switzerland’s glaciers have lost about 20 percent of their volume over the past five years, according to a study published Thursday, highlighting the scale of ice loss in the Alps.

This year brought the second-largest annual decline since monitoring began. The losses came amid severe heatwaves and a winter with little snowfall.

The combination left glaciers exposed to intense summer melting after receiving limited replenishment during the colder months. Winter snow helps sustain glaciers and shields the ice beneath it as temperatures rise.

The five-year decline underscores how rapidly Switzerland’s frozen landscape is changing. Shrinking glaciers also put their role as natural freshwater reserves under pressure, with implications for the seasonal flow of water from the mountains.