In the Ice Age, it would have filled the valley that is now home to the river.
When looked at side by side, the two photostaken in August 2009 and August 2024are astonishing.
The difference took Porter by surprise.
Photo: swisshippo/Depositphotos
Not gonna lie, it made me cry, he wrote.
To those in the know, the contrast isn’t so shocking.
According toofficial reports, Alpine glaciers have lost 60% of their volume since 1850.
“Rhone Glacier” by Johann Heinrich Müller. c. 1870/80. (Photo: viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
And in Switzerland, there has been a 10% loss of volume in just 2022 and 2023 alone.
Swiss glaciologistMatthias Hussposted astunning GIFthat demonstrates how the extra snowfall can still melt rapidly once high temperatures arrive.
Fifteen years minus one day between these photos.
Taken at the Rhone glacier in Switzerland today.
Rhone Glacier by Johann Heinrich Muller.
But during the last weeks the tide has turned.
Melt has kicked in, probably accelerated by abundant Saharan dust on snow surfaces.
