Matthias Huss
@matthias-huss.bsky.social
glaciologist @ethzurich and @wslresearch.bsky.social, head of GLAMOS, passionate about mountains
Like pulling the plug of a bathtub: an incredible mass of #glacier ice disappearing at Griesgletscher (🇨🇭/🇮🇹) in one century.
It felt emotional to visit the exact same spot @swisstopo cartographers chose in 1919. The view was so different.
Simply unbelievable!!
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
It felt emotional to visit the exact same spot @swisstopo cartographers chose in 1919. The view was so different.
Simply unbelievable!!
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Like pulling the plug of a bathtub: an incredible mass of #glacier ice disappearing at Griesgletscher (🇨🇭/🇮🇹) in one century.
It felt emotional to visit the exact same spot @swisstopo cartographers chose in 1919. The view was so different.
Simply unbelievable!!
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
It felt emotional to visit the exact same spot @swisstopo cartographers chose in 1919. The view was so different.
Simply unbelievable!!
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
Remember the catastrophic rock-ice avalanche of Blatten 🇨🇭 this May?
This incredible image comparison shows like nothing else the darkening of mountain peaks.
And along with the disappearance of snow, ice and permafrost, new hazards come along
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
This incredible image comparison shows like nothing else the darkening of mountain peaks.
And along with the disappearance of snow, ice and permafrost, new hazards come along
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Remember the catastrophic rock-ice avalanche of Blatten 🇨🇭 this May?
This incredible image comparison shows like nothing else the darkening of mountain peaks.
And along with the disappearance of snow, ice and permafrost, new hazards come along
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
This incredible image comparison shows like nothing else the darkening of mountain peaks.
And along with the disappearance of snow, ice and permafrost, new hazards come along
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
110 years ago, glaciologists climbed up to Claridenfirn 🇨🇭 to start the longest measurements of #glacier mass balance worldwide.
Yesterday morning, the scene looked so different! Still beautiful, but the ice got slim... Almost sentimental to see another crazy year up there
Yesterday morning, the scene looked so different! Still beautiful, but the ice got slim... Almost sentimental to see another crazy year up there
September 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
110 years ago, glaciologists climbed up to Claridenfirn 🇨🇭 to start the longest measurements of #glacier mass balance worldwide.
Yesterday morning, the scene looked so different! Still beautiful, but the ice got slim... Almost sentimental to see another crazy year up there
Yesterday morning, the scene looked so different! Still beautiful, but the ice got slim... Almost sentimental to see another crazy year up there
One more year: Ice loss at Konkordiaplatz on Aletsch #Glacier is just... wow 😲 Minus 4.6 metres of ice.
Will there ever be a call:
"Make Aletsch Great Again"?
It would be about time
Will there ever be a call:
"Make Aletsch Great Again"?
It would be about time
September 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
One more year: Ice loss at Konkordiaplatz on Aletsch #Glacier is just... wow 😲 Minus 4.6 metres of ice.
Will there ever be a call:
"Make Aletsch Great Again"?
It would be about time
Will there ever be a call:
"Make Aletsch Great Again"?
It would be about time
We discontinued mass balance measurements on the small St. Annafirn in 2023 as the #glacier was on the verge of disappearing and rockfall hazard became too high.
A good decision: a massive landslide occurred this Sunday covering the entire glacier 👇
www.ur.ch/mmdirektione....
A good decision: a massive landslide occurred this Sunday covering the entire glacier 👇
www.ur.ch/mmdirektione....
September 13, 2025 at 5:12 PM
We discontinued mass balance measurements on the small St. Annafirn in 2023 as the #glacier was on the verge of disappearing and rockfall hazard became too high.
A good decision: a massive landslide occurred this Sunday covering the entire glacier 👇
www.ur.ch/mmdirektione....
A good decision: a massive landslide occurred this Sunday covering the entire glacier 👇
www.ur.ch/mmdirektione....
This #glacier encountered during our late-summer fieldwork looks like a wounded animal.
Deep scars in its surface are indicative of the processes of internal decay. This is widespread now in the Alps.
A sad sight for a glaciologist...
Deep scars in its surface are indicative of the processes of internal decay. This is widespread now in the Alps.
A sad sight for a glaciologist...
September 13, 2025 at 11:28 AM
This #glacier encountered during our late-summer fieldwork looks like a wounded animal.
Deep scars in its surface are indicative of the processes of internal decay. This is widespread now in the Alps.
A sad sight for a glaciologist...
Deep scars in its surface are indicative of the processes of internal decay. This is widespread now in the Alps.
A sad sight for a glaciologist...
It's the time of the year GLAMOS measurements on around 20 Swiss #glaciers start. We've been on Rhone, Allalin, Corvatsch, ... these days.
Not all as shiny white as here! Major losses also in 2025. Stay posted for the press release via @scnat.ch on 1 Oct
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
Not all as shiny white as here! Major losses also in 2025. Stay posted for the press release via @scnat.ch on 1 Oct
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Did you know that already more than 1000 glaciers have disappeared in Switzerland over the last 50 years as a consequence of human-caused climate change?
One of those is Pizolgletscher which I visited today. Always a saddening yet impressive sight...
One of those is Pizolgletscher which I visited today. Always a saddening yet impressive sight...
August 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Did you know that already more than 1000 glaciers have disappeared in Switzerland over the last 50 years as a consequence of human-caused climate change?
One of those is Pizolgletscher which I visited today. Always a saddening yet impressive sight...
One of those is Pizolgletscher which I visited today. Always a saddening yet impressive sight...
A hole in the #glacier ice... Nature is just incredible.
We were at Glacier de la Plaine Morte today for GLAMOS measurements. Bad situation, as expected. Major mass loss has already occurred and melting continues at crazy rates. Wow, let's see where this is ending...
We were at Glacier de la Plaine Morte today for GLAMOS measurements. Bad situation, as expected. Major mass loss has already occurred and melting continues at crazy rates. Wow, let's see where this is ending...
August 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A hole in the #glacier ice... Nature is just incredible.
We were at Glacier de la Plaine Morte today for GLAMOS measurements. Bad situation, as expected. Major mass loss has already occurred and melting continues at crazy rates. Wow, let's see where this is ending...
We were at Glacier de la Plaine Morte today for GLAMOS measurements. Bad situation, as expected. Major mass loss has already occurred and melting continues at crazy rates. Wow, let's see where this is ending...
Getting used to this image: #glaciers almost completely naked - unprotected by the white snow - in August...
While July was good for glaciers after record-melt in June, the new heat wave again results in major ice loss
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
While July was good for glaciers after record-melt in June, the new heat wave again results in major ice loss
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Getting used to this image: #glaciers almost completely naked - unprotected by the white snow - in August...
While July was good for glaciers after record-melt in June, the new heat wave again results in major ice loss
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
While July was good for glaciers after record-melt in June, the new heat wave again results in major ice loss
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
Great Aletsch #Glacier - what a beauty 😍
Melting at the glacier terminus is incredible though this year as reported by measurements by @pronaturabl.bsky.social
Already over 7️⃣ meters of ice loss since Oct 2024, with considerable melt also in winter.
Melting at the glacier terminus is incredible though this year as reported by measurements by @pronaturabl.bsky.social
Already over 7️⃣ meters of ice loss since Oct 2024, with considerable melt also in winter.
July 11, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Great Aletsch #Glacier - what a beauty 😍
Melting at the glacier terminus is incredible though this year as reported by measurements by @pronaturabl.bsky.social
Already over 7️⃣ meters of ice loss since Oct 2024, with considerable melt also in winter.
Melting at the glacier terminus is incredible though this year as reported by measurements by @pronaturabl.bsky.social
Already over 7️⃣ meters of ice loss since Oct 2024, with considerable melt also in winter.
This is the collapsing terminus of Rhone #glacier yesterday - retreating out of its proglacial lake. Impressive changes going on during the heat wave!
We measured almost 3 meters of ice melting over the last 4 weeks... This is 10 cm of ice layer removed every single day!!
We measured almost 3 meters of ice melting over the last 4 weeks... This is 10 cm of ice layer removed every single day!!
July 9, 2025 at 6:28 AM
This is the collapsing terminus of Rhone #glacier yesterday - retreating out of its proglacial lake. Impressive changes going on during the heat wave!
We measured almost 3 meters of ice melting over the last 4 weeks... This is 10 cm of ice layer removed every single day!!
We measured almost 3 meters of ice melting over the last 4 weeks... This is 10 cm of ice layer removed every single day!!
A 26-day period of exceptionally high temperatures will end tomorrow, 4 degrees above normal.
Swiss #glaciers have lost an enormous amount of water during this time: it is equivalent to 🇨🇭's total annual drinking water use, and more than twice the average of the last years...
Swiss #glaciers have lost an enormous amount of water during this time: it is equivalent to 🇨🇭's total annual drinking water use, and more than twice the average of the last years...
July 5, 2025 at 11:12 AM
A 26-day period of exceptionally high temperatures will end tomorrow, 4 degrees above normal.
Swiss #glaciers have lost an enormous amount of water during this time: it is equivalent to 🇨🇭's total annual drinking water use, and more than twice the average of the last years...
Swiss #glaciers have lost an enormous amount of water during this time: it is equivalent to 🇨🇭's total annual drinking water use, and more than twice the average of the last years...
The #Glacier Loss Day is reached in Switzerland!
From now on all melt that occurs on glaciers until October is unsustainable. This tipping point has only been reached so early in the record-shattering year 2022.
Expect big ice loss due to the prolonged melt season and feedback effects
From now on all melt that occurs on glaciers until October is unsustainable. This tipping point has only been reached so early in the record-shattering year 2022.
Expect big ice loss due to the prolonged melt season and feedback effects
July 4, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The #Glacier Loss Day is reached in Switzerland!
From now on all melt that occurs on glaciers until October is unsustainable. This tipping point has only been reached so early in the record-shattering year 2022.
Expect big ice loss due to the prolonged melt season and feedback effects
From now on all melt that occurs on glaciers until October is unsustainable. This tipping point has only been reached so early in the record-shattering year 2022.
Expect big ice loss due to the prolonged melt season and feedback effects
Some cooling within the #glacier ice - this is what is urgently needed these days...
On Jungfraujoch, there has been no warmer June since at least 90 years than in 2025! @meteoschweiz.ch
Glaciers are in a deplorable state - as if they even need more attention in their UN International Year...
On Jungfraujoch, there has been no warmer June since at least 90 years than in 2025! @meteoschweiz.ch
Glaciers are in a deplorable state - as if they even need more attention in their UN International Year...
July 2, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Some cooling within the #glacier ice - this is what is urgently needed these days...
On Jungfraujoch, there has been no warmer June since at least 90 years than in 2025! @meteoschweiz.ch
Glaciers are in a deplorable state - as if they even need more attention in their UN International Year...
On Jungfraujoch, there has been no warmer June since at least 90 years than in 2025! @meteoschweiz.ch
Glaciers are in a deplorable state - as if they even need more attention in their UN International Year...
Reposted by Matthias Huss
🚨 New paper alert! Glaciers in Western Canada, Switzerland & the conterminous US lost twice as much ice from 2021–2024 compared to the previous decade. Heatwaves + dust & wildfire impurities drove extreme melt.
Co-authored by #VAW member @matthias-huss.bsky.social ❄️🌍
Co-authored by #VAW member @matthias-huss.bsky.social ❄️🌍
July 1, 2025 at 7:56 AM
🚨 New paper alert! Glaciers in Western Canada, Switzerland & the conterminous US lost twice as much ice from 2021–2024 compared to the previous decade. Heatwaves + dust & wildfire impurities drove extreme melt.
Co-authored by #VAW member @matthias-huss.bsky.social ❄️🌍
Co-authored by #VAW member @matthias-huss.bsky.social ❄️🌍
In about 4 days from now, we are going to hit the #Glacier Loss Day in Switzerland! All melting from this point onwards till next winter is unsustainable, i.e. is long-term mass loss.
This is extremely early in the season! And just a bit behind the record-shattering year 2022...
This is extremely early in the season! And just a bit behind the record-shattering year 2022...
June 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In about 4 days from now, we are going to hit the #Glacier Loss Day in Switzerland! All melting from this point onwards till next winter is unsustainable, i.e. is long-term mass loss.
This is extremely early in the season! And just a bit behind the record-shattering year 2022...
This is extremely early in the season! And just a bit behind the record-shattering year 2022...
Snow situation on Konkordiaplatz, Great Aletsch #Glacier, by 29 June 2019-2025.
Exchanging white snow with dark bare ice. This is really bad! And there's still up to 100 days to go in the melt season. Will we reach the all-time record of 2022?
I hope not...!
@jungfraualetsch.bsky.social
Exchanging white snow with dark bare ice. This is really bad! And there's still up to 100 days to go in the melt season. Will we reach the all-time record of 2022?
I hope not...!
@jungfraualetsch.bsky.social
June 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Snow situation on Konkordiaplatz, Great Aletsch #Glacier, by 29 June 2019-2025.
Exchanging white snow with dark bare ice. This is really bad! And there's still up to 100 days to go in the melt season. Will we reach the all-time record of 2022?
I hope not...!
@jungfraualetsch.bsky.social
Exchanging white snow with dark bare ice. This is really bad! And there's still up to 100 days to go in the melt season. Will we reach the all-time record of 2022?
I hope not...!
@jungfraualetsch.bsky.social
One month ago, Birchgletscher collapsed and erased the village of Blatten. A disastrous event that will keep Switzerland busy for a long while...
swisstopo images 👇 show the #glacier front began to advance in 2020, indicating a growing instability - a precursor of the event
swisstopo images 👇 show the #glacier front began to advance in 2020, indicating a growing instability - a precursor of the event
June 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
One month ago, Birchgletscher collapsed and erased the village of Blatten. A disastrous event that will keep Switzerland busy for a long while...
swisstopo images 👇 show the #glacier front began to advance in 2020, indicating a growing instability - a precursor of the event
swisstopo images 👇 show the #glacier front began to advance in 2020, indicating a growing instability - a precursor of the event
Hunting the extreme year 2022...
Yes, I'm really worried about the current state of Swiss #glaciers! After a dry winter, the scorching heat of the last weeks pushes glaciers towards another black year.
Hoping for some cooling but the summer has only just started
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
Yes, I'm really worried about the current state of Swiss #glaciers! After a dry winter, the scorching heat of the last weeks pushes glaciers towards another black year.
Hoping for some cooling but the summer has only just started
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Hunting the extreme year 2022...
Yes, I'm really worried about the current state of Swiss #glaciers! After a dry winter, the scorching heat of the last weeks pushes glaciers towards another black year.
Hoping for some cooling but the summer has only just started
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
Yes, I'm really worried about the current state of Swiss #glaciers! After a dry winter, the scorching heat of the last weeks pushes glaciers towards another black year.
Hoping for some cooling but the summer has only just started
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
The tongue of Rhone #Glacier ten days after my last visit. Can you guess how much ice melted away? 1️⃣ meter in terms of thickness! 1️⃣0️⃣ days... And that's just the beginning of the summer season.
We know the times are bad for the ice, but still it is hard to accept these numbers!
We know the times are bad for the ice, but still it is hard to accept these numbers!
June 24, 2025 at 5:38 AM
The tongue of Rhone #Glacier ten days after my last visit. Can you guess how much ice melted away? 1️⃣ meter in terms of thickness! 1️⃣0️⃣ days... And that's just the beginning of the summer season.
We know the times are bad for the ice, but still it is hard to accept these numbers!
We know the times are bad for the ice, but still it is hard to accept these numbers!
The beauty of a #glacier at sunrise descending down into the valley.
You may not realise that this view is dramatic, and not just gorgeous: Glacier retreat is immense, and there's very little snow this June...
Pic taken from Piz Languard on 22 June 2025
You may not realise that this view is dramatic, and not just gorgeous: Glacier retreat is immense, and there's very little snow this June...
Pic taken from Piz Languard on 22 June 2025
June 23, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The beauty of a #glacier at sunrise descending down into the valley.
You may not realise that this view is dramatic, and not just gorgeous: Glacier retreat is immense, and there's very little snow this June...
Pic taken from Piz Languard on 22 June 2025
You may not realise that this view is dramatic, and not just gorgeous: Glacier retreat is immense, and there's very little snow this June...
Pic taken from Piz Languard on 22 June 2025
Konkordiaplatz on Great Aletschgletscher is now snow-free... A bit later than 2022 but earlier than 2023 (year with second-most highest ice loss).
It hurts to see #glaciers entering a summer with massive ice losses again! And no cooling is in sight
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
It hurts to see #glaciers entering a summer with massive ice losses again! And no cooling is in sight
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Konkordiaplatz on Great Aletschgletscher is now snow-free... A bit later than 2022 but earlier than 2023 (year with second-most highest ice loss).
It hurts to see #glaciers entering a summer with massive ice losses again! And no cooling is in sight
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
It hurts to see #glaciers entering a summer with massive ice losses again! And no cooling is in sight
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social
The last snow on the tongue of Griesgletscher at sunrise.
Beautiful, but bad news for the #glacier... The present heat has massively reduced the already limited amount of winter snow, the natural protection of the ice is soon lost.
Beautiful, but bad news for the #glacier... The present heat has massively reduced the already limited amount of winter snow, the natural protection of the ice is soon lost.
June 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The last snow on the tongue of Griesgletscher at sunrise.
Beautiful, but bad news for the #glacier... The present heat has massively reduced the already limited amount of winter snow, the natural protection of the ice is soon lost.
Beautiful, but bad news for the #glacier... The present heat has massively reduced the already limited amount of winter snow, the natural protection of the ice is soon lost.
Let's better visualise the suffering of Swiss #glaciers with an image: Rhone glacier yesterday for first summer measurements and a conversation with @apnews.com The glacier is now far back in the valley, the lake expanding while the ice coverage in the foreground looks ridiculous...
June 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Let's better visualise the suffering of Swiss #glaciers with an image: Rhone glacier yesterday for first summer measurements and a conversation with @apnews.com The glacier is now far back in the valley, the lake expanding while the ice coverage in the foreground looks ridiculous...