On 11 August 2023, we made the following observations on the Gries glacier (Griesgletscher), among others:
Gries glacier
Gries glacier on 11 August 2023.
View from the Cornopass area onto the Gries glacier, which is practically 100% free of snow.
Gries glacier on 11 August 2023.
Legend
1) Dead ice on the south side of the glacier.
2) Southern glacier gate.
3) New, small proglacial lake.
4) Former glacier bed.
5) Northern lateral moraine.
Middle part of the Gries glacier. Aerial view from 11 August 2023.
Currently, the connection from the upper to the lower part of the Gries Glacier is still guaranteed.
Dead ice
Dead ice on 11 August 2023.
On the south side of the Gries glacier, dead ice covered with debris persists on a steep flank.
Glacier gate
Glacier gate of the Gries glacier on 11 August 2023.
The glacier gate had a special shape on 11 August 2023. Meltwater flowed out of the Gries glacier at the top left and in the centre of the photo. In addition, meltwater flowed into the glacier stream through an above-ground (= supraglacial) meltwater channel, also approx. in the centre of the picture.
Proglacial lake
Western part of the proglacial lake on 11 August 2023.
A shallow, elongated proglacial lake formed on the eastern side of the glacier. We could not find out how much meltwater flows into this lake.
Eastern part of the proglacial lake on 11 August 2023.
See also the photo below.
Glacier bed
Proglacial lake, glacier bed and sand cone from a bird
Legende
1) Elongated, proglacial lake.
2) Former glacier bed.
3) Position of the sand cone.
The aerial views of this former glacier bed never cease to fascinate us.
Long ago, the advancing ice flattened the gravel on this large area. The grooves below the 2 show the direction of flow of the ice. During the melting of the Gries glacier in the last 10-15 years, melt water created the lateral erosion channels.
Former glacier bed of the Gries glacier on 11 August 2023.
A glacier bed can have different characteristics:
At 1 the glacial ice lay on levelled gravel.
At 2, the glacial ice rested on rocks and worked them.
Sand cone
Sand cone on 11 August 2023.
Erosion lateral moraine
Erosion at the northern lateral moraine on 11 August 2023.
The northern lateral moraine was eroded by snowmelt, rain, wind, etc.. The moraine material was transported to the surface of the glacier. The layer of debris acts as insulation. Therefore, the ice melted less quickly under the debris than in the surrounding area.
Glacier stream
Glacier stream below the southern glacier gate on 11 August 2023.
The glacial stream enjoys its freedom and has already created a wide stream bed.
Meander plain on 11 August 2023.
A few years ago still covered by the ice of the Gries glacier, perfect meanders present themselves on a small plain.
Meandering glacial stream on 11 August 2023 at around 11 am.
At 11 a.m., the discharge was such that the glacier stream could still be crossed without any problems. About two hours later, the discharge was significantly higher and the water much more turbid.
Environment and meteo
On the approach through the Val Corno we did not discover a single body of water (stream, brook, rivulet, etc.). This was despite the fact that a few cm of snow had fallen in the area a few days earlier and the Nufenen Pass, for example, had to be temporarily closed.
Temperature in front of the glacier at 12 o'clock: 21°.
Zero degree limit on 11.8.2023: 4300m a.s.l.
Snow fell up to 1900m a.s.l. on 07.08.2023
In the following days, the zero degree line rose step by step to 4300m a.s.l.
Published / Modified:
30.08.2023 /
14.09.2023