Switzerland's glaciers lose 5% of their ice in a 'catastrophic year', scientists warn

Scientists are warning that Switzerland's glaciers have lost an enormous amount of ice over the past year, describing it as a catastrophic period for the country's alpine ice fields, according to Al Jazeera.

Researchers monitoring the glaciers say the losses amount to roughly 5% of their total ice mass, attributing the sharp decline to repeated heatwaves that struck the region this year.

Switzerland's glaciers have been in long-term retreat for decades, but scientists cited in the report describe this year's losses as particularly severe, underscoring concerns about the accelerating pace of melt in the Alps as temperatures continue to rise.

The findings add to a broader pattern of glacier shrinkage observed across the Alpine region in recent years, with researchers continuing to monitor how successive hot summers are affecting the long-term stability of Switzerland's remaining ice cover.