Photo: Tiefen Glacier and Galenstock on 28.8.2017.
Legend:
- Red rectangle:
Area in which the tongue has lost contact with the glacier.
The photos below show this section on 28.9.2016, 17.7.2017 and 28.8.2017.
- Yellow dots:
The yellow dots mark the former tongue, which is now cut off from the ice supply of the glacier. It is a rather large mass of so-called dead ice. If the current trend continues, this dead ice will melt in the coming years. Holes, funnels and caves should soon form. This increases the size of the ice surface exposed to the warm air and accelerates the melting process. Signs (circular structure) of a funnel/hole can already be seen below the red rectangle. A lake or other alluvial plain may be left behind. The landscape will Change.
Detail view of the transition area between the glacier and the tongue (= Red rectangle in overview):
Photo: Transition area on 28.9.2016
Photo: Transition area on 17.7.2017
Photo: Transition area on 28.8.2017
In our view, this change does not pose a threat to settlements or traffic routes. The routes for mountain and ski tours could be tangent from the Albert-Heim-Hütte and Tiefenbach towards Tiefenstock and the entrance to Galenstock - Nordgrat.