Downloads
Overview of all Swiss glaciers:
List of all glaciers
Current list of glaciers with measurements (name, ID, coordinates, area, available data) DOWNLOAD
Glacier Inventory 2016
The Swiss Glacier Inventory 2010 provides areas, outlines and debris cover of all glaciers in Switzerland referring to the years 2013–2018. The data are based on aerial imagery and are delivered as a shapefile DOWNLOAD
When using these data, please cite as:
Linsbauer, A., Huss, M., Hodel, E., Bauder, A., Fischer, M., Weidmann, Y., Bärtschi, H. & Schmassmann, E. 2021, The new Swiss Glacier Inventory SGI2016: From a topographical to a glaciological dataset. Frontiers in Earth Science, 22, doi:10.3389/feart.2021.704189.
Glacier Inventory 2010
The Swiss Glacier Inventory 2010 provides areas and outlines of all glaciers in Switzerland referring to the years 2008-2011. The data are based on aerial imagery and are delivered as a shapefile DOWNLOAD
When using these data, please cite as:
Fischer, M., Huss, M., Barboux, C. & Hoelzle, M. 2014, The new Swiss Glacier Inventory SGI2010: relevance of using high-resolution source data in areas dominated by very small glaciers. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 46, 933–945.
Glacier Inventory 1973
The Swiss Glacier Inventory 1973 provides areas and outlines of all glaciers in Switzerland referring to the year 1973. The data are based on aerial imagery and are delivered as a shapefile DOWNLOAD
When using these data, please cite as:
Müller, F., Caflisch, T. & Müller, G. 1976, Firn und Eis der Schweizer Alpen (Gletscherinventar). Publ. Nr. 57/57a. Geographisches Institut, ETH Zürich, 2 Vols. & Maisch, M., Wipf, A., Denneler, B., Battaglia, J. & Benz, C. 2000, Die Gletscher der Schweizer Alpen: Gletscherhochstand 1850, Aktuelle Vergletscherung, Gletscherschwund-Szenarien. (Schlussbericht NFP 31). 2. Auflage. vdf Hochschulverlag an der ETH Zürich, 373 pp. & Paul, F. 2004, The new Swiss glacier inventory 2000 – application of remote sensing and GIS. PhD Thesis, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Schriftenreihe Physische Geographie, 52, 210 pp.
Glacier Inventory 1931
The Swiss Glacier Inventory 1931 provides areas and outlines of all glaciers in Switzerland referring to the mean year 1931. The data are based on terrestrial imagery and the first version of LK50 and are delivered as a shapefile. DOWNLOAD
When using these data, please cite as:
Mannerfelt, E. S., Dehecq, A., Hugonnet, R., Hodel, E., Huss, M., Bauder, A., and Farinotti, D. 2022, Halving of Swiss glacier volume since 1931 observed from terrestrial image photogrammetry. The Cryosphere, 16, 3249–3268, doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3249-2022.
Glacier Inventory 1850
The Swiss Glacier Inventory 1850 provides areas and outlines of all glaciers in Switzerland referring to the year 1850. The data are based on historical maps and geomorphological evidence and are delivered as a shapefile DOWNLOAD
When using these data, please cite as:
Maisch, M., Wipf, A., Denneler, B., Battaglia, J. & Benz, C. 2000, Die Gletscher der Schweizer Alpen: Gletscherhochstand 1850, Aktuelle Vergletscherung, Gletscherschwund-Szenarien. (Schlussbericht NFP 31). 2. Auflage. vdf Hochschulverlag an der ETH Zürich, 373 pp. & Paul, F. 2004, The new Swiss glacier inventory 2000 – application of remote sensing and GIS. PhD Thesis, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Schriftenreihe Physische Geographie, 52, 210 pp.
Glacier length changes are measured annually at the tongues of all larger and on many of the smaller Swiss glaciers and provide an overview of their long-term variations. The dataset contains all available observations up to present and is delivered as a .csv file.
Glacier length changes
Observed length changes of glaciers DOWNLOAD
When using these data, please cite as:
GLAMOS (2024). Swiss Glacier Length Change, release 2024, Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, doi:10.18750/lengthchange.2024.r2024.
Length Change Classification
Temporal pattern of length change for every glacier with ongoing measurements classified according to advance (blue), stationary (green) and retreat (red). Glaciers are displayed in descending order of current glacier length. link to Figure
Length Change Variation
Fraction of classified annual glacier length change (advancing, stationary and retreating) for all glaciers with long-term measurement series (annual number of observations shown in top panel). The bottom panel shows the cumulative length change of four iconic glaciers with different characteristics throughout Switzerland. link to Figure
Direct measurements of glacier mass balance – the sum of snow accumulation and snow/ice melt – are carried out on selected glaciers in Switzerland. Based on point observations, typically acquired in April/May and September, glacier-wide quantities of seasonal mass balance (winter/summer/annual) are evaluated, expressed as a an area-averaged value of water equivalent (w.e.). The dataset contains all available observations up to present and is delivered as four separate .csv files with results both for the exact measurement periods (observation, varying between the years) and the hydrological year (fix-date), as well as for glacier-wide quantities and for individual elevation bins.
Glacier mass balances (observation period)
Glaciological mass balances over the effective observation period DOWNLOAD entire glacier / DOWNLOAD elevation bins
Glacier mass balances (hydrological year)
Glaciological mass balances over the hydrological year (1 October to 30 September) DOWNLOAD entire glacier / DOWNLOAD elevation bins
When using these data, please cite as:
GLAMOS (2024). Swiss Glacier Mass Balance, release 2024, Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, doi:10.18750/massbalance.2024.r2024.
Course of Massbalance
Modelled cumulative course of daily glacier-wide mass balance in the current year constrained by seasonal in situ surveys (black triangles). The average variation of cumulative daily mass balance for the 2010-2020 measurement period is shown with the grey shading and the top bar provides a classification of the state of the current year relative to this 10-year average. link to Figures
Massbalance Anomaly Annual
Anomaly of individual observations of glacier-wide ANNUAL mass balance (solid dots) relative to the glacier-specific average of the 2010-2020 measurement period. Numbers for the individual measurements are given referring to the hydrological year (1 Oct to 30 Sept). Small dots show a regional extrapolation to indicate spatial trends. The years back to 2000 are listed in descending order. link to Figures
Massbalance Anomaly Winter
Anomaly of individual observations of glacier-wide WINTER accumulation (solid dots) relative to the glacier-specific average of the 2010-2020 measurement period. Numbers for the individual measurements are given referring to a fixed period (1 Oct to 30 April). Small dots show a regional extrapolation to indicate spatial trends. The years back to 2000 are listed in descending order. link to Figures
Massbalance Anomaly Summer
Anomaly of individual observations of glacier-wide SUMMER mass loss (solid dots) relative to the glacier-specific average of the 2010-2020 measurement period. Numbers for the individual measurements are given referring to a fixed period (1 May to 30 Sept). Small dots show a regional extrapolation to indicate spatial trends. The years back to 2000 are listed in descending order. link to Figures
The comparison of digital elevation models derived from aerial remote sensing allows the computation of glacier ice volume changes over periods of years to decades. Ice volume changes have been converted to geodetic mass balances assuming a density of volume change of 850 kg/m³. The dataset contains all available observations for the most important Swiss glaciers up to present and is delivered as a .csv file.
Glacier volume changes
Volume changes, mean thickness changes, annual geodetic mass balances DOWNLOAD
When using these data, please cite as:
GLAMOS (2023). Swiss Glacier Volume Change, release 2023, Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, doi:10.18750/volumechange.2023.r2023.
Ice Volume Evolution
Evolution of total glacier ice volume since 1980 based on today’s total measured ice volume and a spatial extrapolation of observed mass balance. Results are both shown for all Swiss glaciers, and specified for individual hydrological basins. link to Figures
Relative Ice Volume Change
Relative annual change in total Swiss glacier ice volume with respect to the previous year. Colours indicate extreme loss (purple), strong loss (red), moderate loss (grey), and gain (blue). The blue shading in the background shows the evolution of overall Swiss glacier volume since 2000. link to Figure
When using these data, please cite as:
GLAMOS 1881-2023, The Swiss Glaciers 1880-2022/23, Glaciological Reports No 1-142, Yearbooks of the Cryospheric Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), published since 1964 by VAW / ETH Zurich, doi:10.18752/glrep_series.
Standard graphics updated annually
Length Change Classification
Temporal pattern of length change for every glacier with ongoing measurements classified according to advance (blue), stationary (green) and retreat (red). Glaciers are displayed in descending order of current glacier length. link to Figure
Length Change Variation
Fraction of classified annual glacier length change (advancing, stationary and retreating) for all glaciers with long-term measurement series (annual number of observations shown in top panel). The bottom panel shows the cumulative length change of four iconic glaciers with different characteristics throughout Switzerland. link to Figure
Course of Massbalance
Modelled cumulative course of daily glacier-wide mass balance in the current year constrained by seasonal in situ surveys (black triangles). The average variation of cumulative daily mass balance for the 2010-2020 measurement period is shown with the grey shading and the top bar provides a classification of the state of the current year relative to this 10-year average. link to Figures
Massbalance Anomaly Annual
Anomaly of individual observations of glacier-wide ANNUAL mass balance (solid dots) relative to the glacier-specific average of the 2010-2020 measurement period. Numbers for the individual measurements are given referring to the hydrological year (1 Oct to 30 Sept). Small dots show a regional extrapolation to indicate spatial trends. The years back to 2000 are listed in descending order. link to Figures
Massbalance Anomaly Winter
Anomaly of individual observations of glacier-wide WINTER accumulation (solid dots) relative to the glacier-specific average of the 2010-2020 measurement period. Numbers for the individual measurements are given referring to a fixed period (1 Oct to 30 April). Small dots show a regional extrapolation to indicate spatial trends. The years back to 2000 are listed in descending order. link to Figures
Massbalance Anomaly Summer
Anomaly of individual observations of glacier-wide SUMMER mass loss (solid dots) relative to the glacier-specific average of the 2010-2020 measurement period. Numbers for the individual measurements are given referring to a fixed period (1 May to 30 Sept). Small dots show a regional extrapolation to indicate spatial trends. The years back to 2000 are listed in descending order. link to Figures
Ice Volume Evolution
Evolution of total glacier ice volume since 1980 based on today’s total measured ice volume and a spatial extrapolation of observed mass balance. Results are both shown for all Swiss glaciers, and specified for individual hydrological basins. link to Figures
Relative Ice Volume Change
Relative annual change in total Swiss glacier ice volume with respect to the previous year. Colours indicate extreme loss (purple), strong loss (red), moderate loss (grey), and gain (blue). The blue shading in the background shows the evolution of overall Swiss glacier volume since 2000. link to Figure
When using these data, please cite as:
GLAMOS 1881-2023, The Swiss Glaciers 1880-2022/23, Glaciological Reports No 1-142, Yearbooks of the Cryospheric Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), published since 1964 by VAW / ETH Zurich, doi:10.18752/glrep_series.