Glacier front of the Unteraar glacier on 11 June 2022
The front of Unteraargletscher was already 100% snow-free on 11 June 2022. The front is still 40-45m high at its highest point (measured by drone). Since July 2021, the front has moved further west as a result of the
glacial melting.
Clean glacier ice was only visible in the northern glacier gate. The rest of the ice was covered with sand and/or debris. The front of the Unteraar glacier presented a rather sad picture.
Large amounts of meltwater flow from the Unteraar glacier. Photo from 11 June 2022
At 1 is the southern Getscher gate number 1, through which most of the meltwater flowed away.
Southern glacier gate 1 of Unteraargletscher on 11 June 2022.
Approximately 80% of the meltwater left the Unteraar glacier in the area of the southern
glacier gate number 1. This glacier gate does not correspond to what is understood by a gate: Where the water leaves the glacier, the ice practically reaches the water surface. It would be interesting to see what shape and size the
subglacial meltwater channel behind it has.
Southern glacier gate 2 of Unteraargletscher on 11 June 2022.
Insignificant amounts of water flowed out of the southern glacier gate number 2. In the forefront of this glacier gate, the wide stream/river bed testifies to the time when much more water flowed out through this glacier gate.
Middle glacier gate of Unteraargletscher on 11 June 2022.
The middle glacier gate has lost size due to the receding glacier front. About 10% of the meltwater flowed out of this gate.
Northern glacier gate of Unteraargletscher on 11 June 2022.
The northern glacier gate has lost none of its size since July 2021. It is one of the largest glacier gates we have seen so far. About 10% of the meltwater flowed out of this gate. The height of this glacier gate is 20-25m (estimate).
45cm long piece of wood. Find from 11 June 2022.
Daniela found two pieces of wood in the forefield of the Unteraar glacier, which were released by the glacier. Since the sites are in the area of the
wood finds of 2020 and 2021, we assume that the pieces of wood come from the same time period as the dated finds of 2020. The radiocarbon age of the finds of 2020 is 2465 +/- 23 years before today.
Roche moutonnée in Lake Grimsel. Photo taken on 11 June 2022.
Lake Grimsel (reservoir) had a very low level on 11 June 2022.
Possible reasons:
1) The winter of 2021/22 had very little snow.
2) We were at the Unteraar glacier more than a month earlier than in previous years.
3) The level of the lake may have been lowered for maintenance work.
Thanks to the low level of the lake, a very beautiful
Roche moutonnée became visible, which is normally under water. The direction of flow of the ice was from right to left.