Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
Schwarzmilzferner loses glacier status after severe ice loss
The Schwarzmilzferner has lost its glacier status after a hot summer in the Allgäu Alps.
The ice field is on the Austrian side of the mountains, and researchers say it is no longer flowing, a condition used to define a glacier.
It lost more than four metres in thickness and about half its volume during the warm months.
Researchers expect it to disappear after next summer, according to glaciologist Christoph Mayer.
Its decline is part of a wider loss of ice, with several smaller Alpine glaciers disappearing each year.
Germany’s four remaining glaciers have also lost substantial ice: by 2025, they had lost more than a quarter of their area in two years.
The Blaueis and Watzmann glaciers could lose their glacier status in the coming years, while the Northern Schneeferner could be affected by the end of the decade.
The Schwarzmilzferner in the Allgäu High Alps has lost its status as a glacier after severe ice loss during a hot summer.
The ice lost more than four metres of thickness and about half its volume.
Glaciologist Christoph Mayer said it is likely to disappear completely after the coming summer.
The Schwarzmilzferner no longer flows, a key condition in the definition of a glacier.
Scientists say Germany’s remaining glaciers are also shrinking rapidly.
- Who
- Experts have withdrawn the Schwarzmilzferner’s glacier status. Glaciologist Christoph Mayer discussed its decline.
- What
- The Schwarzmilzferner has lost its status as a glacier after major ice loss.
- When
- After the 2026 hot summer, according to the article published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- On the Austrian side of the Allgäu High Alps, at about 2,450 metres.
- Why
- It lost more than four metres in thickness and about half its volume, and it no longer flows.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Scientists began documenting clear losses in the Schwarzmilzferner’s ice mass.
The glacier’s ice loss intensified.
The Schwarzmilzferner lost its glacier status after losing more than four metres in thickness and about half its volume.
Mayer said the Schwarzmilzferner will very likely have disappeared completely.
- Location
- Austrian side of the Allgäu High Alps
- Elevation
- About 2,450 metres
- Ice thickness lost
- More than 4 metres
- Volume lost
- About half
- Monitoring period
- 26 years
- Projected disappearance
- After the coming summer, according to Christoph Mayer
What people are saying
After the coming summer it will very likely have disappeared completely.
This development has intensified once again since 2022. Since then it was clear that the glacier was coming to an end.
Even if there is a lot of snow in winter, the ice masses are rapidly suffering. The summers are now too hot for them.
Based on the current situation, I assume that the entire Eastern Alps will be ice-free between 2060 and 2070.