Swedish glaciers are shrinking: "Extremely clear"

Sweden's glaciers are shrinking at a record rate this year, according to measurements from Stockholm University. The white expanses are being replaced by dirt, rocks, and meltwater. It's extremely clear, says glacier researcher Nina Kirchner.

» Updated: October 05 2024

» Published: October 04 2024

Swedish glaciers are shrinking: "Extremely clear"
Photo: Sara Widell/Stockholms universitet.

In total, 35,000 tons of ice have melted away from Storglaciären, Rabots glacier, Rivgojiehhki, and Moarhmmáglaciären. This is thousands of tons more than the previous record year.

When the researchers arrived early in the summer, it looked like it usually does at the end of the summer. This is because the melting season is starting earlier.

It's not these sparkling, glittering white romantic snowscapes. It's dirty, it's rocky, there's a lot of water that's shrinking the glaciers on all sides. It's extremely clear, says Nina Kirchner, professor of glaciology.

The final measurements were taken in September to get a measure of when the glaciers are at their smallest, and were compared with the winter measurements.

Hard to grow

For Storglaciären, on the eastern slope of Kebnekaise, the loss of 8,400 tons corresponds to a 2.85-meter thick layer of water over the entire glacier.

The melting was three times as large, a little more even this year, compared to last year, says Kirchner.

And last year wasn't a good year either.

We don't have any good years anymore, unfortunately. Every year with a loss is a bad year for the glaciers.

In order for a glacier to grow, a cold winter with a lot of snow and not much wind is first needed. Then, a cool summer is required so that the snow remains, followed by another snowy winter that can pack the previous year's snow.

This winter, there was little snow that was blown away already during the winter, so we had a pretty thin snow cover to start with. And when it melts, the ice surface is exposed directly and starts melting away all too early.

Sweden has 269 glaciers, and it's hard to keep track of all of them at the same time. But according to Kirchner, she hasn't seen a single one move forward in the last 10-15 years.

Many new holes

The meltwater either flows over the surface along the glacier or down into cracks. On the four current glaciers, more so-called glacier wells have emerged – holes straight down from the surface to the mountain – where the water rushes down.

These wells have always existed. But now they're popping up everywhere, even in the highest parts of the glaciers, which hasn't been seen before, says Kirchner.

Glaciers around the world are shrinking due to global warming, caused by human emissions. The Swedish glaciers are no exception.

I have no other explanation. So it's absolutely climate change.

Researchers at Stockholm University have investigated the so-called mass balance at four of Sweden's glaciers, designated as reference glaciers. The balance is a total measure of how much the glacier has grown during the winter, compared to how much it has shrunk during the summer.

The findings are reported to the World Glacier Monitoring Service in Switzerland, where data from around 50 reference glaciers worldwide are collected.

The four Swedish glaciers are Storglaciären, Rabots glacier, Rivgojiehhki, and Moarhmmáglaciären.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Sweden's Ugliest Building: New Lund
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Ugliest Building: New Lund House Sparks Debate

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 10
1 MIN READ

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 10 Years in Denmark for Explosives Transport

Sweden Proposes Profit Ban for
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Profit Ban for New Independent Schools

Man at Arlanda Airport Found
1 MIN READ

Man at Arlanda Airport Found with 7,000 Dollars in Cash

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's
2 MIN READ

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's Release in Talks with Turkey

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful
1 MIN READ

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful Foot Surgery

Police Clarify Timeline in Örebro
1 MIN READ

Police Clarify Timeline in Örebro Shooting Investigation

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling
2 MIN READ

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling Body Image Issues in Youth

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces
1 MIN READ

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces Constitutional Committee Review

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in
1 MIN READ

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in Blekinge, Raising Concerns

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise
1 MIN READ

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise Deaths, No Crime Suspected

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade
1 MIN READ

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade Attack on Malmö Restaurant

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to
3 MIN READ

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to Revitalize Sweden's Liberal Party

Record Number of Swedes Register
1 MIN READ

Record Number of Swedes Register for University Entrance Exam

Shots Fired at House in
1 MIN READ

Shots Fired at House in Hudiksvall, Police Investigate Attempted Murder

15-Year-Old Girl Suspected in Eslöv
1 MIN READ

15-Year-Old Girl Suspected in Eslöv Bus Stabbing Incident

Demirok Steps Down as Center
1 MIN READ

Demirok Steps Down as Center Party Leader Citing Internal Leaks

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by
3 MIN READ

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by Stockholm University Team

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One
1 MIN READ

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One Person Detained

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Arrested

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces
1 MIN READ

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces Charges in Pension Fund Bribery Case

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower
2 MIN READ

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

Critics Challenge Proposal to End
3 MIN READ

Critics Challenge Proposal to End Summer Grazing for Swedish Dairy Cows

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery Purchases Supporting Parties

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång Fire Investigated as Suspected Murder

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids
1 MIN READ

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids and Hazardous Substances

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact from US Tariffs, Government Warns

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges for House Fire in Norway

Man Charged in Fatal Lund
1 MIN READ

Man Charged in Fatal Lund Knife Attack Linked to Drug Deal

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by
1 MIN READ

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by 30 Percent in 2024, Young Riders Most Affected

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for
1 MIN READ

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for Embezzling Millions from Municipalities

Teen Faces Court in Sweden
2 MIN READ

Teen Faces Court in Sweden for Alleged Sect-Linked Knife Attack

Elderly Man Critically Injured in
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man Critically Injured in Kävlinge Villa Fire

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief
1 MIN READ

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief Anna Saleem Högberg

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at
2 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at Migration Detention Centers

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to
1 MIN READ

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to Close Following Riksdag Decision

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Parents in Sweden Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Parents in Sweden Jailed for Locking Children in Basement