Swiss Glaciers Lose Nearly 20% Volume in Five Years, Second-Worst Annual Balance

Swiss glaciers recorded their second-worst annual mass balance on record in 2026, with cumulative volume loss approaching 20% since 2021. The study confirms an accelerating trend of alpine ice loss, driven by sustained high temperatures and reduced snowfall. This underscores the rapid pace of cryospheric change in the European Alps and its implications for water resources and sea-level rise.