On 25. July 2024, we made the following observations on the Unteraar Glacier:
Glacier front of the Unteraar glacier on 25. July 2024
The front is still approx. 35m high at the highest point (= yellow dot) (measured with a drone). Since July 2023, the front has moved further west as a result of the
Glacier melt. The Triftbach now no longer flows laterally into the Unteraargletscher, but about 10m east past the front into the glacier stream.
The surface of the ice was covered with sand and/or debris. The front of the Unteraargletscher also presented a rather sad picture this year.
arge quantities of turbid meltwater flowing from the Unteraar Glacier. Photo from 25. July 2024.
The young Aare has deepened the river bed within a year.
The discharge of meltwater has changed significantly since
24.06.2023. See also the following chapter.
Crossing the northern glacial stream on 25. July 2024.
Although the northern glacier stream was flooded at the point where it split into several branches, the result was wet socks.
This year, the glacier is draining further to the west than in previous years. The situation was unclear from the ground this year.
Southern glacier gates of the Unteraargletscher on 25. July 2024.
At S1 and S2, about a third of the meltwater left the Unteraar Glacier. The water did not flow through a gate in the true sense of the word, but presumably through a channel in the glacier bed at the lower edge of the ice.
Middle and lower glacier gate of the Unteraargletscher on 25. July 2024.
Bird's-eye view of glacier gates S2 (= southern glacier gate), M (= middle glacier gate) and N (= northern glacier gate). A third of the meltwater left the Unteraar glacier at each of the glacier gates M and N.
The two aerial photographs above clearly show the different colors of the various glacial streams.
Middle glacier gate of the Unteraar glacier on 25. July 2024.
The meltwater flows under ice and debris into the glacial stream at the yellow dot. An ice cone covered with boulders and debris can be seen at the orange dot.
Front of the Unteraargletscher on 25. July 2024.
To the north of the central glacier gate is the approximately 35m high front. The various curved crevasses indicate the formation of a real glacier gate. A pond with meltwater can be seen at the yellow dot.
Glacier stream in front of the middle glacier gate on 25. July 2024.
The embankment on the south side of this glacial stream shows the power that meltwater can develop. The slope did not exist a year ago. In recent years, the water has repeatedly reshaped the area in front of the glacier. In the process, considerable quantities of debris have been relocated or transported away.
Northern glacier gate of the Unteraar glacier on 25. July 2024.
In the photo, the Triftbach flows from the top right in front of the northern glacier gate into the northern glacier stream. A year ago, the Triftbach flowed through a tunnel (possibly an ice arch) through the Unteraar glacier.
Cliffs in the southern part of the Unteraargletscher on 25. July 2024.
The dead ice at the foot of the northern flank of the Desortstock has continued to melt and large cliffs have formed. The large areas exposed to the warm air favor the melting of the ice.
The photos below show the surface of the Unteraargletscher in the area of the glacier end. The photos show how badly the middle section of the Unteraar glacier is in longitudinal direction.
View from the front over the debris-covered ice flow on 25. July 2024. The top of the front can be seen at the bottom right.
Front of the Unteraar glacier from a birds eye view on 25. July 2024.
Decay phenomena in the Unteraar glacier on 25. July 2024.
Within a year, the circular edge has extended further to the north (= to the right in the photo).
Meltwater channel in decay phenomena in the Unteraar Glacier on 25. July 2024.
To the right of the yellow dot (see previous photo) you can see a meltwater channel that carries a lot of water.
Temperatures: 22° around 200m before the glacier (1940m above sea level) at 1 pm
Zero degree line: 4200m above sea level (forecast by MeteoSwiss)
The previous seven days the zero degree line was between 3900 and 4400m above sea level, on average at 4050m above sea level.