GLARES (GLAcier REal-time Switzerland) provides a glimpse into the present state of Swiss glaciers with daily updates.
The mass balance of all Swiss glaciers greater than 0.2km2 (n=404) is simulated at high temporal and spatial resolution using MeteoSwiss weather data and 9-day forecasts. All observations documenting the snow depth / melt rates at point sites are assimilated (real-time cameras, full mass balance surveys, intermediate partial surveys, snowlines from webcams or satellite imagery).
Map of regional mass balance anomaly (pdf).
Annual course of mass balance (CH/regional) (pdf).
Deviation of all individual glaciers across Switzerland from the typical mass balance state on the present day. Anomalies are expressed as glacier-specific standard deviations relative to the period 2010-2020. Glaciers with detailed monitoring programmes are represented with large dots. Grey halos around the symbols indicate that observations were used to constrain the state in the present year.
Course of mass balance during the present year (red) with respect to the variation in the reference period 2010-2020 (blue, grey bands). The present state is indicated with the colour bar on top. The grey line shows the 9-day projection based on weather forecasts.
9-day projected glacier mass change rates (CH/regional) (pdf).
Daily rate of glacier mass changeduring the last 5 days and the next 9 days based on ICON weather forecasts (red). The typical rate of glacier mass change in 2010-2020 is shown and the years with the most positive and most negative glacier mass change (since 2010) are indicated with purple and orange dotted lines for reference.
Past and projected glacier melt runoff (CH/regional) (pdf).
Computed swiss-wide runoff from snow- and ice melt over glacierized areas. Results for the current year (red) are shown with respect to the reference period (2010-2020, blue) and the difference for selected periods (last month, last two weeks, last 5 days, next 5 days) is given in the inset.
Course of mass balance in the present year with respect to exceptional years (pdf).
Course of mass balance during the present year (red) with respect to the variation in the reference period 2010-2020 (blue, grey bands). The grey line shows the 9-day projection based on weather forecasts. The two most negative and the two most positive years on the current day, as well as the last year, are represent with separate lines for comparison.