Dead ice Tiefen glacier: Glacier gate on 4.8.2019.
Collapse structure south
The southern collapse structure reaches up to the level of the glacier lake and is connected to the glacier gate by a quite large tunnel.
Dead ice cone Tiefen glacier: Collapse structure south on 4.8.2019 (aerial photo).
The glacier gate is in the picture below left, in the extension of the sickle-shaped crevasses. The collapse structure is partly still filled with snow.
Collapse structure north
This collapse structure is currently still filled with snow. But it should also reach to the bottom of the dead ice cone.
Dead ice cone Tiefen glacier: Collapse structure north on 4.8.2019 (aerial photo).
The aerial photograph shows the circular (radial) crevasses of the glacier, which surround the still small collapse structure. According to our observations, these circular crevasses have always led to a larger collapse structure.
Glacial lake
Tiefen glacier: Glacial lake on 4.8.2019.
Due to the melting of the dead ice, the glacial lake has enlarged considerably.
Its depth is probably max. a few meters. It is conceivable that the glacier has dug a hollow at the end of the steep step, which is currently still filled with dead ice. The dead ice is expected to melt in the coming years. Perhaps a lake with a greater depth will remain behind.
Snow situation
This year there was more snow on the Tiefen glacier than in previous years with the exception of 2018, which is why we only visited the Tiefen glacier at the beginning of August this year.
Vegetation glacier forefield
The vegetation in the glacier forefield (from the eastern end of the alluvial plain to the dead ice) is still sparse. Below some photos of plants, which we could discover several times:
Tiefen glacier: Moss in the northern part of the glacier forefield on 4.8.2019.
Tiefen glacier: Grasses in the northern part of the glacier forefield on 4.8.2019.
Vegetation 2500m
A few years ago, at an altitude of approx. 2500m, we noticed a surface facing the sun with an interesting structure.
The ground is dark brown to grey. The surface is wrinkled and quite firm. It looks as if the mass would have flowed. This ground has cracks in which plants have settled.
Ground at an altitude of approx. 2500m above sea level on 4.8.2019.
Flat, shrub-like plant, which grows in one of the cracks on 4.8.2019.
Close-up of the ground on 4.8.2019.
It is a pity that people carelessly trample over this special floor and damage it in the process.
Close to the glacier we found sandy areas, which could look like the dark brown ground in > 10 years (see photos above).
Sandy areas in the immediate vicinity of the Tiefen glacier on 4.8.2019.
