On 24.6.2023, we made the following observations on Unteraar glacier, among others:
Glacier front of the Unteraar glacier on 24 June 2023.
The front of Unteraar glacier was already 100% snow-free on 24 June 2023. The front is still 40m high at its highest point (measured by drone). Since June 2022, the front has moved further west as a result of the
glacier melt. It is now at the level of the Triftbach.
Clean glacier ice was only visible in the ice arch through which the Triftbach flows. The rest of the ice was covered with sand and/or debris. The front of the Unteraar glacier presented a rather sad picture again this year.
The photo was taken from location 1. In 2017, the dead ice cone, whose melting we documented photographically, stood about 30m from this point. The distance from this point to the Triftbach is 650m.
Large quantities of turbid meltwater flow from the Unteraar glacier. Photo taken on 24 June 2023.
At the yellow point is the southern glacier gate S1, through which practically no meltwater flowed off this year.
The discharge of meltwater has changed considerably since
11.6.2022. See also the following chapter.
Southern glacier gate S1 of Unteraargletscher on 24 June 2023.
Approx. 5% of the meltwater left the Unteraargletscher in the area of the southern
glacier gate S1.
Southern glacier gate S2 of Unteraar glacier on 24 June 2023.
About 30% of the water flowed out of the southern glacier gate S2. The meltwater was very turbid.
Glacier gate M1 in the middle part of the front of Unteraargletscher on 24 June 2023.
In the middle of the front, large amounts of turbid meltwater (approx. 30% each) escaped through two glacier gates on 24 June 2023. Glacier gate M1 is located at the foot of a half cone of debris and ice.
Middle glacier gate M2 of Unteraar glacier on 24 June 2023.
At glacier gate M2, turbid meltwater left the glacier in two places.
Arc of ice on Unteraar glacier on 24 June 2023.
Since June 2022, the northern glacier gate has turned into an
Arc of ice through which the clear water of the Triftbach flows. The arc of ice will not last long.
The photos below show the surface of the Unteraargletscher in the area of the end of the glacier. The photo shows how bad the longitudinal middle part of the Unteraargletscher is.
View from the front across the debris-covered ice stream. The top of the front can be seen below.
View from the front across the debris-covered ice stream.
Shot from almost the same point as the top photo, but camera panned further down. Below is the area of the middle glacier gates.
Signs of decay in the Unteraar glacier on 24 June 2023.
The photo below shows a section of the photo above. Below the yellow dot a glacial stream can be seen, which carries meltwater. This means that some of the deep cuts were gradually 'created' by meltwater.
The numerous surfaces are exposed to the warm air. This accelerates the melting of the ice.
Foreign body in the forefield of the Unteraar glacier. Status 24 June 2023.
Since June 2022, an approx. 1.5m high, red-coloured pillar has been installed approx. 100m from the front of the Unteraar glacier, in the middle of the glacier forefield. This for tourist and commercial purposes. A pity for the so far largely intact glacier foreland. A pity for the intact nature (fauna & flora), which will be unnecessarily put under pressure by the tourist development.