Presanella Glacier Shrinks Dramatically in Three Years

Photographs taken on 23 July 2023 and 18 July 2026 show the Presanella glacier in the Trentino Alps losing most of its ice. The glacier’s front has retreated toward the mountain wall, its thickness and surface area have sharply decreased, and former ice‑filled basins have merged into a single lake.

The Sat Glaciological Commission attributes the rapid loss to rising temperatures and reduced snow cover, calling the three‑year period “a brief time in high‑mountain environments to witness such deep transformations.” The change is presented as a clear local signal of the broader global warming trend, with implications for downstream water resources and alpine ecosystems.