The Rapidly Retreating Rhone Glacier in the Central Alps, Switzerland

Abstract

The Rhone Glacier is the best-documented case in the Alps of a rapidly retreating glacier. Photographs and other documents show the history of the changing glacier since the Little Ice Age. Fluctuations of the glacier tongue reflect decadal temperature fluctuations during the observation period. The last quarter century witnessed the most spectacular retreat, resulting in the development of a glacier lake. The pro-glacial lake has increased rapidly in size to the extent that the Swiss Federal Office of Cartography and Survey has given it the official geographical name of "Rhonesee" . The major stages of the Rhone Glacier are presented in this article with selected photographs and figures.