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News list
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European State of the Climate 2024
The report provides a summary of the climate in Europe, in the Arctic, and globally, based on authoritative data sources compiled by institutions across Europe. The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) and the Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics Group at GIUZ contributed glacier data and analyses.
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Every tenth of a degree counts
The United Nations proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and established 21 March as the annual World Day for Glaciers to sound the alarm that accelerating glacier melt risks unleashing an avalanche of cascading impacts on economies, ecosystems and communities. Several UZH glaciologists are significantly involved in the underlying research and participate in various international and national events.
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Nicht auf Eis gelegt
Die international koordinierte Gletscherbeobachtung hat eine lange Tradition. Was im 19. Jahrhundert mit ersten systematischen Messungen begann, wurde bis heute kontinuierlich weitergeführt und bekam in diesem Jahr, dem von der UNO ausgerufenen «Internationalen Jahr zur Erhaltung der Gletscher», eine besondere Bedeutung.
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Melting Glaciers Increase Loss of Freshwater Resources and Rise Global Sea Levels
The melting ice from glaciers worldwide is leading to an increased loss of regional freshwater resources. And it is causing global sea levels to rise at ever-greater rates. Since the year 2000, glaciers have been losing 273 billion tons of ice annually, according to estimates by an international research community led by researchers of the University of Zurich.
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Which glacier is next to disappear?
Global warming has led to the disappearance of thousands of glaciers worldwide – with high impact on human communities in terms of cultural meaning, natural beauty, water availability, economic opportunity, and world heritage. The Global Glacier Casualty List exists to remember their names and tell their stories.
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European State of the Climate 2023
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) jointly released the European State of the Climate 2023 report. The report provides a summary of the climate in Europe, in the Arctic, and globally, based on authoritative data sources compiled by institutions across Europe. The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) contributed glacier data and analyses.
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«Was wäre, wenn … »: Eine Welt ohne Gletscher
Dann hätten wir so viele Kipppunkte im Klimasystem angestossen, dass es eine ungemütliche Welt wäre, sagt Michael Zemp, Direktor des World Glacier Monitoring Service in der Sendung «10 vor 10». Wenn wir das Klimaziel von maximal 2 Grad Erwärmung erreichen, kann noch ein grosser Teil der Gletscher gerettet werden. »Wir müssen aufhören, nur darüber zu reden, wir müssen handeln.»
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European State of the Climate 2022
The Copernicus Climate Change Service, on behalf of the European Commission, released the European State of the Climate 2022 report. The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) contributed glacier data and analyses.
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Heat stored in the Earth system 1960–2020: where does the energy go?
Our "out-of-balance" Earth accumulates more energy than it loses. But how much and where? An international, multidisciplinary research team used carefully calibrated, cross-checked, and well-documented data from the ocean, land, ice, and atmosphere. The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) contributed the glacier data and calculations.
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Which glaciers are the largest in the world?
This question is often asked but not easily answered. It depends on how a glacier is defined and on the availability, quality and consistency of digital glacier outlines at a global scale. A joint paper by the US National Snow and Ice Data Center and the World Glacier Monitoring Service now provides the answer.
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New intercomparison exercise approved by ESA
In response to ESA's Polar Science Cluster, a joint consortium by the WGMS, the University of Edinburgh, and Earthwave successfully proposed a "Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise" (GlaMBIE)
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Gletscher - Gradmesser der globalen Erderwärmung
Im Rahmen der Ausstellung «Earth Beats» am Kunsthaus Zürich sind Podcasts mit Expert:innen aus vielen Wissensgebieten entstanden. Einer davon ist der Gletscherforscher Samuel Nussbaumer.
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Running a world class database on glaciers
Glaciers are key indicators of ongoing climate change. The World Glacier Monitoring Service compiles and disseminates standardized data on glacier fluctuations. Recently, the Global Glacier Change Bulletin No. 4 was published.
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Sind die Alpengletscher noch zu retten?
Gletscher reagieren mit Verzögerung auf den Klimawandel. Doch bei manchen ist der maximale Wasserabfluss bereits erreicht, sagt Samuel Nussbauer in einer ARTE-Reportage vom Rhonegletscher.
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The WGMS contributed to the European State of the Climate report
This week, the Copernicus Climate Change Service, on behalf of the European Commission, released the European State of the Climate 2020 report. The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) - located at the Department of Geography - contributed glacier data and analyses.
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2020 WDS Data Stewardship Award
The award by the World Data System is related to a collaboration of Ethan Welty with the WGMS. Ethan's sound knowledge in glaciology and information technology and his personal commitment allowed the release of a new version of the Glacier Thickness Database.
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Adieu ewig’ Eis
Läuft uns die Zeit davon? Eine Frage und drei Antworten im aktuellen UZH Magazin: Eine davon gibt Michael Zemp, Professor für Glaziologe und Direktor des World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS).
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On Thin Ice
Our glaciers are melting. Glaciologist Michael Zemp believes that a reduction in air travel among the scientific community is inevitable.
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Insight into the WGMS
Using rubber boots and rain gauge instead of ice axe and down jacket for glacier monitoring? Getting to know the later husband on a glacier? Gain insight into the work of the national correspondents of WGMS in 23 videos!
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WGMS contributing to European State of the Climate 2019
One of the headline climate indicators of the European State of the Climate Report are glaciers and sea level rise. The WGMS is the responsible data and information provider for glacier distribution and changes.
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Disappearing glaciers: UZH media highlight 2019 comes from GIUZ
UZH researchers’ answers to the burning questions of the day made international headlines in 2019. The list of the top ten is led by a release from the Department of Geography.
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Glacier measurement series with mayonnaise
The method for re-analysis of mass balance series of glaciers as an interactive infographics: Actually, it's as easy as mixing mayonnaise!
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WGMS Letter of Concern to COP25
Glacier-mass changes are a reliable indicator of climate change. The worldwide network of glacier observers urges parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to boost international cooperation in monitoring these changes, and to include the results in the Paris agreement’s global stocktake.
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1894–2019: 125 years of internationally coordinated glacier monitoring
The 125 year jubilee of the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), located at the Department of Geography, attracted considerable media attention. The General Assembly was split into three regional meetings which were held in Zurich, Switzerland, Almaty, Kazakhstan and El Calafate, Argentina, respectively.