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Global glacial retreat in Switzerland and Argentina

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2026-10-02 07:44 UTC → 2026-10-02 07:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Glacial retreat is accelerating in Switzerland and Argentina. In the Swiss Alps, the Great Aletsch Glacier has undergone a visible and continuous recession, with its terminus now clearly visible from viewpoints where it was once hidden. By late 2026, the GLAMOS network and the Swiss Academy of Sciences reported that Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of their total ice volume during the 2026 hydrologic year. This decline, driven by record-high temperatures and exceptionally low snowfall, marks the second-worst loss since records began. Over the last five years, Swiss glaciers have lost nearly 20% of their total volume. Major glaciers like the Aletsch and Rhône experienced record melting, while some smaller glaciers, such as Bella Tola and Griessfiren/Plattalvafirn, disappeared entirely. This melting released approximately 2.2 trillion liters of water between July and September 2026, with some ice thicknesses decreasing by up to 10 meters. Researchers noted that the freezing limit remained above 4,000 meters for a record 76 days between May and September. The lack of protective snow cover exposed darker ice that absorbed more solar energy, further accelerating the melt. This rapid retreat poses significant risks to water security for agriculture, hydropower, and transportation, while also increasing the danger of mountain slope instability and landslides. Simultaneously, Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier has shifted from a state of equilibrium to rapid retreat. Between February and June 2026, the glacier’s front retreated 910 meters, surpassing historical retreat records from 1899. Monitoring indicates increased ice velocity and thinning of the glacial mass. Scientists warn that these rapid changes threaten water security, agriculture, and hydroelectric power across Europe and South America.

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