July 13, 2025

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Just the Facts, from multiple news sources.

Climate change is making Switzerland’s ebbing glaciers look like Swiss cheese

Summary

The Rhone Glacier in Switzerland is showing signs of significant melting related to climate change. Experts have observed that this melting is causing holes to form in the glacier, a situation worsened by less snowfall and higher temperatures. As a result, glaciers across Switzerland and other parts of the world are shrinking and losing mass.

Key Facts

  • The Rhone Glacier is melting and developing holes due to climate change.
  • Matthias Huss from the glacier monitoring group GLAMOS observed these changes firsthand.
  • A recent mudslide from an Alpine mountain affected a Swiss village, linked partly to glacier changes.
  • Switzerland has the most glaciers in Europe, and these have been steadily retreating since the 1980s.
  • Last month was reported as the second-warmest May worldwide by the European Union’s Copernicus climate center.
  • Less snow and more heat are difficult conditions for glaciers, causing mass loss in many regions.
  • A healthy glacier grows new ice through snowfall while melting at lower levels; this balance is disrupted by warming climates.
  • The melting and formation of holes in glaciers resemble Swiss cheese, indicating a lack of dynamic ice regeneration.

Source Information