Articles | Volume 10, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-723-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-723-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
14 Jul 2022
Research article |
| 14 Jul 2022
| 14 Jul 2022
Volume, evolution, and sedimentation of future glacier lakes in Switzerland over the 21st century
Tim Steffen
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
(WSL), 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Matthias Huss
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
(WSL), 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg,
Switzerland
Rebekka Estermann
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
(WSL), 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Elias Hodel
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
(WSL), 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Daniel Farinotti
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
(WSL), 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Viewed
Total article views: 5,537 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 01 Mar 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,061 | 1,360 | 116 | 5,537 | 158 | 180 |
- HTML: 4,061
- PDF: 1,360
- XML: 116
- Total: 5,537
- BibTeX: 158
- EndNote: 180
Total article views: 4,183 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 14 Jul 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,150 | 937 | 96 | 4,183 | 139 | 163 |
- HTML: 3,150
- PDF: 937
- XML: 96
- Total: 4,183
- BibTeX: 139
- EndNote: 163
Total article views: 1,354 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 01 Mar 2022)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 911 | 423 | 20 | 1,354 | 19 | 17 |
- HTML: 911
- PDF: 423
- XML: 20
- Total: 1,354
- BibTeX: 19
- EndNote: 17
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 5,537 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 5,277 with geography defined
and 260 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 4,183 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 4,024 with geography defined
and 159 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,354 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,253 with geography defined
and 101 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
24 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Proglacial lake development and outburst flood hazard at Fjallsjökull glacier, southeast Iceland G. Wells et al.
- Progress and challenges in glacial lake outburst flood research (2017–2021): a research community perspective A. Emmer et al.
- Glacial lake formation and evolution in the Hindukush Region of Afghanistan between 1990 and 2020 F. Azizi et al.
- Progressively smaller glacier lake outburst floods despite worldwide growth in lake area G. Veh et al.
- Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Northern Pakistan: local interpretations & social impacts A. Saif & R. Ali
- Warming-driven erosion and sediment transport in cold regions T. Zhang et al.
- Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Hazard and Risk Management Strategies: A Global Overview R. Ahmed
- Future emergence of new ecosystems caused by glacial retreat J. Bosson et al.
- Climate Change Maps for the Atlas of Switzerland L. Gaia et al.
- Climate sensitivity of natural hazards processes in mountain regions: A fuzzy logic approach P. Mani et al.
- Long-term monitoring and forecasting of glacial lake dynamics using Landsat time series data, Google Earth Engine, machine learning, and geospatial analysis P. Banerjee
- Evolving resource potential of glacial lakes with ongoing deglaciation G. Veh et al.
- Mitigating future glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalaya X. Wang et al.
- Exploring beneath the retreating ice: swath bathymetry reveals sub- to proglacial processes and longevity of future alpine glacial lakes S. Hosmann et al.
- Ecohydrological and geomorphological importance of glacial lakes T. Zhang et al.
- Predicting Hydrological Change in an Alpine Glacierized Basin and Its Sensitivity to Landscape Evolution and Meteorological Forcings C. Aubry‐Wake & J. Pomeroy
- Evolution, sedimentation and thermal state of the emerging pro‐glacial lakes at Witenwasserengletscher, Switzerland F. Hardmeier et al.
- High-resolution land use/cover forecasts for Switzerland in the 21st century L. Bütikofer et al.
- Understanding the Future Dynamics of Kashang Glacial Lake in Indian Himalaya: Remote Sensing and Modeling-Based Hazard Assessment R. Kumar et al.
- Glacial lake outburst flood hazard under current and future conditions: worst-case scenarios in a transboundary Himalayan basin S. Allen et al.
- Characteristics and changes of glacial lakes and outburst floods G. Zhang et al.
- In-situ bathymetry and volume estimation of four glacial lakes in western Himalaya S. Das & R. Ramsankaran
- Assessing the role of regional characteristics in estimating the volume of glacial lakes in the upper Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra basins, Hindu Kush Himalaya A. Kumar et al.
- Evaluating glacial lake resource potential G. Wells
24 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Proglacial lake development and outburst flood hazard at Fjallsjökull glacier, southeast Iceland G. Wells et al.
- Progress and challenges in glacial lake outburst flood research (2017–2021): a research community perspective A. Emmer et al.
- Glacial lake formation and evolution in the Hindukush Region of Afghanistan between 1990 and 2020 F. Azizi et al.
- Progressively smaller glacier lake outburst floods despite worldwide growth in lake area G. Veh et al.
- Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Northern Pakistan: local interpretations & social impacts A. Saif & R. Ali
- Warming-driven erosion and sediment transport in cold regions T. Zhang et al.
- Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Hazard and Risk Management Strategies: A Global Overview R. Ahmed
- Future emergence of new ecosystems caused by glacial retreat J. Bosson et al.
- Climate Change Maps for the Atlas of Switzerland L. Gaia et al.
- Climate sensitivity of natural hazards processes in mountain regions: A fuzzy logic approach P. Mani et al.
- Long-term monitoring and forecasting of glacial lake dynamics using Landsat time series data, Google Earth Engine, machine learning, and geospatial analysis P. Banerjee
- Evolving resource potential of glacial lakes with ongoing deglaciation G. Veh et al.
- Mitigating future glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalaya X. Wang et al.
- Exploring beneath the retreating ice: swath bathymetry reveals sub- to proglacial processes and longevity of future alpine glacial lakes S. Hosmann et al.
- Ecohydrological and geomorphological importance of glacial lakes T. Zhang et al.
- Predicting Hydrological Change in an Alpine Glacierized Basin and Its Sensitivity to Landscape Evolution and Meteorological Forcings C. Aubry‐Wake & J. Pomeroy
- Evolution, sedimentation and thermal state of the emerging pro‐glacial lakes at Witenwasserengletscher, Switzerland F. Hardmeier et al.
- High-resolution land use/cover forecasts for Switzerland in the 21st century L. Bütikofer et al.
- Understanding the Future Dynamics of Kashang Glacial Lake in Indian Himalaya: Remote Sensing and Modeling-Based Hazard Assessment R. Kumar et al.
- Glacial lake outburst flood hazard under current and future conditions: worst-case scenarios in a transboundary Himalayan basin S. Allen et al.
- Characteristics and changes of glacial lakes and outburst floods G. Zhang et al.
- In-situ bathymetry and volume estimation of four glacial lakes in western Himalaya S. Das & R. Ramsankaran
- Assessing the role of regional characteristics in estimating the volume of glacial lakes in the upper Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra basins, Hindu Kush Himalaya A. Kumar et al.
- Evaluating glacial lake resource potential G. Wells
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 30 Apr 2026
Short summary
Climate change is rapidly altering high-alpine landscapes. The formation of new lakes in areas becoming ice free due to glacier retreat is one of the many consequences of this process. Here, we provide an estimate for the number, size, time of emergence, and sediment infill of future glacier lakes that will emerge in the Swiss Alps. We estimate that up to ~ 680 potential lakes could form over the course of the 21st century, with the potential to hold a total water volume of up to ~ 1.16 km3.
Climate change is rapidly altering high-alpine landscapes. The formation of new lakes in areas...
