Articles | Volume 19, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-753-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-753-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 Feb 2025
Research article |
| 19 Feb 2025
| 19 Feb 2025
Reconstructed glacier area and volume changes in the European Alps since the Little Ice Age
Johannes Reinthaler
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Frank Paul
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Post-Little Ice Age Equilibrium-Line Altitude and Temperature Changes in the Greater Caucasus Based on Small Glaciers L. Tielidze et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17091486
- Alps-wide high-resolution 3D modelling reconstruction of glacier geometry and climatic conditions for the Little Ice Age A. Henz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5913-2025
- Precision, Detection Limits, and Uncertainty in Multi-Temporal Geomatic Glacier Monitoring: The Rutor Glacier Case Study M. Macelloni et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18101550
- Changes in glaciers and climate in the Karakoram since the Little Ice Age H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2026.04.001
- Detecting Early Successional Stages in a Glacier Forefield Through a Hierarchical Sentinel-2 Classification Framework E. Beghi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18183140
- Climate-Driven Cryospheric Changes and Their Impacts on Glacier Runoff Dynamics in the Northern Tien Shan A. Akzharkynova et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17010063
- Mamba-trident: terrain-guided tri-modal Mamba network for mapping little ice age glaciers J. Zhou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105524
- The Holocene history of Arsine Glacier (Western European Alps): a detailed 10Be record of oscillations driven by climate and modulated by rock avalanches M. Le Roy et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109455
- Air pressure as a driver of plant-specific microbial responses in the rhizosphere T. Rzehak et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-025-00805-3
- Trajectoires glaciaires dans les Alpes françaises au cours de la période 1905-2023 à partir de l’œuvre iconographique de Paul Helbronner Z. Érard et al. https://doi.org/10.4000/16j7e
- Integrating Social–Ecological Systems and Megatrends: A Participatory Foresight Framework for Sustainability Governance in European Cold Lands R. Scolozzi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219644
- Specific Activity of Radionuclides in Cryoconite Sediments of Glaciers of the Central Caucasus (Tsey, Skazka, Bezengi), Russia R. Tembotov et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth6020060
- Topo-climatic controls on rock glacier chronology since Lateglacial period in the northwestern part of Mattertal, Swiss Alps, reconstructed by TCN dating T. Kizuki et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2026.110502
- Glacier Trajectories in the French Alps During the Period 1905-2023, Based on the Photographic Work of Paul Helbronner L. Ravanel et al. https://doi.org/10.4000/16j7g
- Holocene glacier-climate history of the Calluqueo glacier and Monte San Lorenzo, central Patagonia C. Peltier et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109482
- Glacier changes in Langtang Catchment, Central Nepalese Himalaya from the Little Ice Age (∼1815 CE) to 2023 CE G. Silwal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105555
- Alpine Hunting Grounds and Pastoral Landscapes: Patterns, Hiatuses, and the Impact of Hydropower on Archaeological Sites – A Case Study from Southern Norway L. Åstveit & H. Årskog https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2025-0096
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Post-Little Ice Age Equilibrium-Line Altitude and Temperature Changes in the Greater Caucasus Based on Small Glaciers L. Tielidze et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17091486
- Alps-wide high-resolution 3D modelling reconstruction of glacier geometry and climatic conditions for the Little Ice Age A. Henz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5913-2025
- Precision, Detection Limits, and Uncertainty in Multi-Temporal Geomatic Glacier Monitoring: The Rutor Glacier Case Study M. Macelloni et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18101550
- Changes in glaciers and climate in the Karakoram since the Little Ice Age H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2026.04.001
- Detecting Early Successional Stages in a Glacier Forefield Through a Hierarchical Sentinel-2 Classification Framework E. Beghi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18183140
- Climate-Driven Cryospheric Changes and Their Impacts on Glacier Runoff Dynamics in the Northern Tien Shan A. Akzharkynova et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17010063
- Mamba-trident: terrain-guided tri-modal Mamba network for mapping little ice age glaciers J. Zhou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105524
- The Holocene history of Arsine Glacier (Western European Alps): a detailed 10Be record of oscillations driven by climate and modulated by rock avalanches M. Le Roy et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109455
- Air pressure as a driver of plant-specific microbial responses in the rhizosphere T. Rzehak et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-025-00805-3
- Trajectoires glaciaires dans les Alpes françaises au cours de la période 1905-2023 à partir de l’œuvre iconographique de Paul Helbronner Z. Érard et al. https://doi.org/10.4000/16j7e
- Integrating Social–Ecological Systems and Megatrends: A Participatory Foresight Framework for Sustainability Governance in European Cold Lands R. Scolozzi et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219644
- Specific Activity of Radionuclides in Cryoconite Sediments of Glaciers of the Central Caucasus (Tsey, Skazka, Bezengi), Russia R. Tembotov et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth6020060
- Topo-climatic controls on rock glacier chronology since Lateglacial period in the northwestern part of Mattertal, Swiss Alps, reconstructed by TCN dating T. Kizuki et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2026.110502
- Glacier Trajectories in the French Alps During the Period 1905-2023, Based on the Photographic Work of Paul Helbronner L. Ravanel et al. https://doi.org/10.4000/16j7g
- Holocene glacier-climate history of the Calluqueo glacier and Monte San Lorenzo, central Patagonia C. Peltier et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109482
- Glacier changes in Langtang Catchment, Central Nepalese Himalaya from the Little Ice Age (∼1815 CE) to 2023 CE G. Silwal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105555
- Alpine Hunting Grounds and Pastoral Landscapes: Patterns, Hiatuses, and the Impact of Hydropower on Archaeological Sites – A Case Study from Southern Norway L. Åstveit & H. Årskog https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2025-0096
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 20 Sep 2026
Short summary
Since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) around 1850, glaciers in the European Alps have melted considerably. We collected LIA glacier extents, calculated changes using geoinformatics, and found a 57 % decrease in area (4244 km² to 1806 km²) and a 64 % decrease in volume (280 km³ to 100 km³) by 2015. The average glacier surface lowering was 44 m. After 2000, elevation change rates tripled. Over 1938 glaciers melted away completely, impacting entire regions.
Since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) around 1850, glaciers in the European Alps have melted...
