Smaller glaciers have almost gone

Pixabay

Some smaller glaciers in Switzerland have almost entirely disappeared.

A report from the Swiss Academy of Scientists says ice loss this year was a record. In total, glaciers have lost 6% of their mass. 

But the smaller glaciers were the worst hit. 

Pizol near the Liechtenstein border, the Vadret dal Corvatsch near St Moritz, and the Schwarzbachfirn near Andermatt have all virtually disappeared, say researchers. 

Three main factors are responsible for the mass ice loss. Obviously, the hot summer, but also a lack of snow last winter and then the Sahara sand discolored the snow which means it reflected less heat back into space. 

More from Bitesize News