# Rhone Glacier melting in Switzerland

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rhone-glacier-melting-in-switzerland
> Updated: 2026-08-13T02:34:59.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

The Rhône Glacier in Switzerland has experienced rapid melting, losing more than four metres of ice in a single month. Glaciologists from the monitoring service GLAMOS reported an average loss of approximately 10 centimetres per day since mid-June, driven by successive European heat waves and low winter snowfall. Matthias Huss noted that melting is occurring on the surface and from beneath, where meltwater creates cavities that weaken the glacier's structure.

In response to the accelerated retreat, authorities have begun using large white geotextile blankets to cover portions of the glacier. This technique aims to reflect solar radiation and provide insulation to slow the melting rate in specific areas. While these measures are not intended to halt climate change or prevent the eventual disappearance of the glacier, they serve as a temporary mitigation effort for this critical source of the Rhône River.

## Claims

- Glaciologist Matthias Huss noted the glacier was losing ice at an accelerated rate following a dry winter with little snow. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- White geotextile blankets are being used to cover large areas of the Rhone Glacier. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The strategy aims to temporarily reduce the speed of melting in specific areas rather than stopping climate change. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Rhone Glacier is located in the Swiss canton of Valais near the Furka Pass. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Rhone Glacier is the source of the Rhone River, which flows through Switzerland and France. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-13: Rhone Glacier covered in white blankets to slow melting

White geotextile blankets are being used to cover the Rhone Glacier in the Swiss Alps to reflect solar radiation and temporarily slow the rate of ice melt caused by climate change.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rhone-glacier-covered-in-white-blankets-to-slow-melting

### 2026-08-07: Rhône Glacier in Switzerland loses four meters of ice in a month

Switzerland’s Rhône Glacier shed over four metres of ice in a month, melting at ~10 cm per day due to heat waves and low snowfall, with scientists warning lower sections may vanish in 5‑10 years.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rhne-glacier-in-switzerland-loses-four-meters-of-ice-in-a-month

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Cite as: Rhone Glacier melting in Switzerland. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rhone-glacier-melting-in-switzerland