On 27. August 2024 we made the following observations on the Schwarzberg Glacier:
Schwarzberg glacier from the northern lateral moraine. Photo from 27. August 2024.
Schwarzberg glacier from the glacier forefield. Photo from 27. August 2024.
Rock face and rock islands in the Schwarzberg Glacier. Photo from 27. August 2024.
Legend:
1) Because the glacier ice is melting, the rock face is getting higher from year to year.
2) & 3): Because the glacier ice is melting, these rock islands are getting bigger from year to year.
Glacier end of the Schwarzberg glacier. Photo from 27. August 2024.
1) Since our last visit on August 6, 2021, several collapse structures have formed.
2) Glacier gate.
Glacier gate of the Schwarzberg glacier. Photo from 27. August 2024.
The glacier gate was only about 2m high and inconspicuous on 27. August 2024.
Schwarzberg Glacier: Collapse structure from the northeast. Photo from 27. August 2024.
Schwarzberg Glacier: collapse structure, apron and outwash from the north. Aerial view from 27. August 2024.
Schwarzberg Glacier: Collapse structure from the north. Aerial view from 27. August 2024.
Schwarzberg Glacier: Collapse structure from the north. Detail. Aerial view from 27. August 2024.
Schwarzberg glacier: Sahara dust on snow. Photo from 27. August 2024.
The snow remaining on parts of the Schwarzberg glacier is covered with Sahara dust, which leads to the reddish color and higher melting rates.
Schwarzberg Glacier: Small ice floe. Photo from 27. August 2024.
In the early afternoon, we discovered a few small ice floes in the glacier stream that had been washed out of the glacier. These ice floes consisted of crystal-clear ice and probably came from falling pieces of the ceiling of the glacier gate and/or the collapse structure.
Western lateral moraine, glacial stream and Mattmarksee. Photo from 27. August 2024.
On 29./30. June 2024 the Saas Valley was hit by heavy thunderstorms. The Schwarzberg glacier area suffered minor damage in relation to Saas Grund and other villages.
Mountain path to the Schwarzberg glacier. Photo from 27. August 2024.
The mountain path was washed away over a length of approx. 30m.
Landslide on alpine road on the way to the Schwarzberg glacier. Photo from 27. August 2024.
The large amount of water has triggered a landslide on a lateral moraine.
Buried alpine road on the way to the Schwarzberg glacier. Photo from 27. August 2024.
The landslide buried the alpine road over a length of approx. 30m.
Temperatures:
Temperature approx. 300m before the glacier (approx. 2660m above sea level):
- 14° at 12 o'clock.
Zero degree limit: 4100m above sea level (forecast by MeteoSwiss)
The previous seven days, the zero degree line was between approx. 3850 and 4600m above sea level, on average at approx. 4190m above sea level.