By Sustainability Awakening
Made up of eight islands: Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Niihau, the Big Island Hawaii.
Glaciologists monitored strange glacier advance—50 m since 2019—triggered by rockfall from Kleines Nesthorn, accelerating ice flow to 10 m/day by May 27
Around May 19–20, ~1.5 million m³ of rock crashed onto the glacier’s tongue, fueling internal meltwater & basal pressure—a perfect storm of mass and instability
A multi-phase slope failure on Kleines Nesthorn led to a glacier collapse that rapidly evolved into a mud-ice-rock landslide nearly 2 km long .
Sensors recorded a 3.1‑magnitude seismic event—undeniable proof that the glacier’s front detached in one powerful shockwave .
The debris field, up to 200 m thick, buried homes, church, and swamped the Lonza riverbed—creating a dam and swamped 90% of the village
With the Lonza River blocked, a surge-pond rose ~80 cm per hour. Nearby dwellings now stand in water—even rooftops shown in drone photos .
Despite early evacuations for all 300 residents, a lone 64-year-old shepherd stayed. Search operations halted due to unstable debris—no confirmation yet of survival.
ETH Zurich glaciologists call this “unprecedented” for alpine collapse. While Italy’s 2024 event dropped ~8–9 million m³, Blatten surpassed that—9–10 million m³.
Experts caution against attributing one event to warming—but permafrost thaw weakening rock faces is likely a key factor.
Debris-laden glaciers can advance faster (here ~10 m/day) while concealing internal hydrofracture—an emerging paradox glaciologists didn’t expect.
Recent glacier collapses across Europe and Himalayas mirror increasing high-altitude instability—Glaciologist Mackintosh: “astonished by large‑scale collapses”.
Swiss researchers use seismic, satellite, drone surveillance—and real-time thermal/permafrost mapping—to predict glacier tipping points.
2025 marks the UN International Year of Glacier Preservation—calling for global maps, funding, and mountain resilience measures.