Knowledge (XXG)

Gorner Glacier

Source 📝

442: 477: 522: 507: 462: 492: 71: 101: 441: 131: 506: 491: 427:) on the south side of the Monte Rosa massif. The Gorner Glacier proper is found on the north side. Now the prominent flow visible from Gornergrat is properly called the Grenzgletscher and can no longer be considered part of the Gorner Glacier. The Monte Rosa Glacier in the middle has also lost touch with the Gorner Glacier. This can be seen in a comparison of photographs over the years: 138: 108: 78: 322: 476: 54: 461: 521: 515:: The loss of thickness (about 200 m (660 ft)) of the lower Gorner Glacier since its major expansion in 1859 is recognizable on the south flank of the Gornergrat by the leftover and much higher lateral moraine (the light-coloured part above the grey flank); as seen from the Klein Matterhorn. 317:
to the south is nowadays the main contributor to the lower Gorner Glacier. The Gorner Glacier's upper part is almost already disconnected from its lower part. The former tributaries Breithorngletscher, Triftjigletscher, and Unterer Theodulgletscher lost their connections to the Gorner Glacier during
359:
There are also notable surface features including crevasses and "table top" forms where large surface boulders have been left stranded above the glaciers surface. These tabular rocks are supported by ice that the boulder has sheltered from melting that has affected the more exposed surrounding ice.
500:: The connection between the Gorner Glacier and Grenzgletscher is still present and the moraine is still fed by the former; the old Monte Rosa Hut (2,795 m) is recognizable above the left over, north-eastern lateral moraine of the Grenzgletscher (in the middle, right). 282:. It is about 12.4 km (7.7 mi) long (2014) and 1 to 1.5 km (0.62 to 0.93 mi) wide. The entire glacial area of the glacier related to Gorner Glacier is 53 km (20 sq mi) (2007), which makes it the second largest glacial system in the 416:—in this case, dramatically so. As of 2014, Gorner Glacier had been retreating about 30 metres (98 ft) every year, but with a record loss of 290 metres (950 ft) in 2008. Since its last major expansion (in the modern era, after the 485:: Aerial photo from August 1994 with Gorner Glacier on the left and Grenzgletscher on the right, framing the Monte Rosa massif in the middle. The Monte Rosa Glacier no longer joins the Gorner Glacier. 352:
A notable feature of this glacier is the Gornersee, an ice marginal lake at the confluence area of the Gorner Glacier and Grenzgletscher. This lake fills every year and drains in summer, usually as a
470:: Swiss Army patrol during World War I overlooking the confluence of the Gorner Glacier and Grenzgletscher; even the Monte Rosa Glacier in the middle still has contact to the Gorner Glacier. 302:(nowadays by far its main tributary, now disconnected from the Gorner Glacier proper), Zwillingsgletscher, Schwärzegletscher, Breithorngletscher, Triftjigletscher, and 189: 455:(built 1894–95) would have been found just few metres above the north-eastern border of the Grenzgletscher (in the middle; compare with the third picture). 530:: The upper Gorner Glacier is losing contact with the Grenzgletcher; the middle moraine in particular will no longer be fed by its originally upper part. 70: 298:) the Gorner Glacier (after which the whole system is named, although the upper part is now disconnected from the lower part), Monte Rosa Glacier, 725: 100: 423:
As of about 2015, the Gorner Glacier had retreated to the point where it lost touch with its main tributary: the Grenzgletscher (English:
582: 412:
Like almost all other glaciers in the Alps, and most glaciers on the globe as well, the Gorner Glacier is retreating as a result of
130: 544: 554: 58:
Gorner Glacier (left), central Monte Rosa massif with Monte Rosa Glacier, and the confluence with the Grenzgletscher (2006)
1132: 182: 1127: 718: 353: 451:(photomechanical print): The upper Gorner Glacier (left) is still the main tributary of the lower part; the old 660: 711: 1043: 1036: 1021: 994: 982: 602:"Surface ice motion deviating toward the margins during speed-up events at Gornergletscher, Switzerland" 341: 1060: 1026: 876: 1055: 1016: 987: 697: 1106: 753: 1001: 417: 1065: 881: 972: 781: 401: 386: 791: 805: 901: 896: 796: 631: 337: 333: 267: 364: 1091: 621: 613: 549: 382: 303: 291: 275: 294:. Numerous smaller glaciers connect with the Gorner Glacier. Its (former) tributaries are ( 1011: 691: 586: 287: 255: 871: 1101: 1050: 1031: 941: 861: 452: 413: 390: 379: 325: 299: 318:
the twentieth century; the Unterer Theodulgletscher became disconnected in the 1980s.
1121: 977: 921: 648: 1096: 1070: 866: 856: 378:
itself. However, most of its water is captured by a water catchment station of the
936: 356:. This is one of only a few glacial lakes in the Alps exhibiting this behavior. 926: 841: 786: 279: 175: 53: 17: 1086: 946: 916: 911: 886: 810: 559: 397: 635: 204: 191: 951: 891: 851: 761: 734: 601: 321: 820: 420:) in 1859, it had lost more than 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) in distance. 31: 931: 836: 776: 617: 956: 906: 846: 765: 757: 748: 375: 369: 314: 271: 263: 626: 396:
The glacier as well as the surrounding mountains can be seen from the
661:"Gornergletscher length variation measurements between 1882 and 2017" 171: 585:. Swiss Glacier Monitoring, VAW/ETHZ & EKK/SCNAT. Archived from 295: 769: 320: 290:
system; however, in length it ranks third behind the Aletsch and
815: 703: 400:(3,100 m or 10,200 ft), connected from Zermatt by the 283: 707: 348:) in the back (as seen near from the Old Monte Rosa Hut, 2006) 600:
Sugiyama, S.; Bauder, A.; Riesen, P.; Funk, M. (2010-07-27).
670:. Swiss Glacier Monitoring, VAW/ETHZ & EKK/SCNAT. 2014 1079: 965: 829: 741: 236: 228: 220: 181: 167: 159: 39: 313:) between the central Monte Rosa massif and the 30:"Gorner" redirects here. For the surname, see 719: 8: 385:power plant. This water then ends up in the 726: 712: 704: 36: 625: 571: 437: 363:The glacier is the source of the river 224:60 km (23 sq mi) (1973) 137: 107: 77: 7: 577: 575: 306:(the last three now disconnected). 25: 668:GLAMOS Glacier Monitoring Network 232:12.4 km (7.7 mi) (2014) 520: 505: 490: 475: 460: 440: 136: 129: 106: 99: 76: 69: 52: 27:Glacier on the Monte Rosa massif 606:Journal of Geophysical Research 583:"Gornergletscher, Zermatt (VS)" 545:List of glaciers in Switzerland 555:Retreat of glaciers since 1850 266:found on the west side of the 1: 309:The Grenzgletscher (English: 120:Show map of Canton of Valais 374:, which flows down through 354:glacial lake outburst flood 1149: 29: 424: 345: 329: 310: 244: 63: 51: 44: 389:, the main reservoir of 304:Unterer Theodulgletscher 90:Show map of Switzerland 349: 259: 324: 296:clockwise on this map 1133:Glaciers of the Alps 618:10.1029/2009JF001509 205:45.96972°N 7.80167°E 418:last glacial period 201: /  1128:Glaciers of Valais 1044:Monte Rosa Glacier 1037:Zwillingsgletscher 1022:Breithorngletscher 995:Tiefmatten Glacier 983:Schonbielgletscher 973:Matterhorn Glacier 877:Tête de Valpelline 694:glaciology.ethz.ch 402:Gornergrat Railway 350: 342:Zwillingsgletscher 1115: 1114: 1061:Hohlichtgletscher 1027:Schwärzegletscher 772: 292:Fiescher Glaciers 268:Monte Rosa massif 248: 247: 210:45.96972; 7.80167 16:(Redirected from 1140: 1092:Klein Matterhorn 1056:Mellichgletscher 1017:Triftjigletscher 988:Stockjigletscher 752: 728: 721: 714: 705: 679: 678: 676: 675: 665: 657: 651: 646: 640: 639: 629: 597: 591: 590: 579: 550:List of glaciers 524: 509: 494: 479: 464: 444: 426: 373: 347: 332:) in front with 331: 312: 276:canton of Valais 216: 215: 213: 212: 211: 206: 202: 199: 198: 197: 194: 151: 150:Show map of Alps 140: 139: 133: 121: 110: 109: 103: 91: 80: 79: 73: 56: 37: 21: 1148: 1147: 1143: 1142: 1141: 1139: 1138: 1137: 1118: 1117: 1116: 1111: 1075: 1012:Theodul Glacier 961: 825: 737: 732: 688: 683: 682: 673: 671: 663: 659: 658: 654: 647: 643: 599: 598: 594: 581: 580: 573: 568: 541: 536: 535: 534: 531: 525: 516: 510: 501: 495: 486: 480: 471: 465: 456: 445: 434: 433: 410: 408:Glacial retreat 367: 288:Aletsch Glacier 260:Gornergletscher 209: 207: 203: 200: 195: 192: 190: 188: 187: 155: 154: 153: 152: 149: 148: 147: 146: 145: 141: 124: 123: 122: 119: 118: 117: 116: 115: 111: 94: 93: 92: 89: 88: 87: 86: 85: 81: 59: 46:Gornergletscher 35: 28: 23: 22: 18:Gornergletscher 15: 12: 11: 5: 1146: 1144: 1136: 1135: 1130: 1120: 1119: 1113: 1112: 1110: 1109: 1104: 1102:Trockener Steg 1099: 1094: 1089: 1083: 1081: 1077: 1076: 1074: 1073: 1068: 1063: 1058: 1053: 1051:Findel Glacier 1048: 1047: 1046: 1041: 1040: 1039: 1032:Grenzgletscher 1029: 1024: 1019: 1014: 1007:Gorner Glacier 1004: 999: 998: 997: 992: 991: 990: 975: 969: 967: 963: 962: 960: 959: 954: 949: 944: 939: 934: 929: 924: 919: 914: 909: 904: 899: 894: 889: 884: 879: 874: 869: 864: 862:Ober Gabelhorn 859: 854: 849: 844: 839: 833: 831: 827: 826: 824: 823: 818: 813: 808: 803: 802: 801: 800: 799: 784: 779: 774: 745: 743: 739: 738: 733: 731: 730: 723: 716: 708: 702: 701: 698:Gorner Glacier 695: 692:Gorner Glacier 687: 686:External links 684: 681: 680: 652: 641: 612:(F3): F03010. 592: 589:on 2016-08-12. 570: 569: 567: 564: 563: 562: 557: 552: 547: 540: 537: 533: 532: 526: 519: 517: 511: 504: 502: 496: 489: 487: 481: 474: 472: 466: 459: 457: 453:Monte Rosa Hut 446: 439: 436: 435: 432:Gorner Glacier 431: 430: 429: 425:Border Glacier 414:global warming 409: 406: 391:Grande Dixence 380:Grande Dixence 330:Border Glacier 326:Grenzgletscher 311:Border Glacier 300:Grenzgletscher 262:) is a valley 252:Gorner Glacier 246: 245: 242: 241: 238: 234: 233: 230: 226: 225: 222: 218: 217: 185: 179: 178: 169: 165: 164: 163:Valley glacier 161: 157: 156: 144:Gorner Glacier 143: 142: 135: 134: 128: 127: 126: 125: 114:Gorner Glacier 113: 112: 105: 104: 98: 97: 96: 95: 84:Gorner Glacier 83: 82: 75: 74: 68: 67: 66: 65: 64: 61: 60: 57: 49: 48: 42: 41: 40:Gorner Glacier 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1145: 1134: 1131: 1129: 1126: 1125: 1123: 1108: 1105: 1103: 1100: 1098: 1095: 1093: 1090: 1088: 1085: 1084: 1082: 1078: 1072: 1069: 1067: 1064: 1062: 1059: 1057: 1054: 1052: 1049: 1045: 1042: 1038: 1035: 1034: 1033: 1030: 1028: 1025: 1023: 1020: 1018: 1015: 1013: 1010: 1009: 1008: 1005: 1003: 1002:Furgg Glacier 1000: 996: 993: 989: 986: 985: 984: 981: 980: 979: 978:Zmutt Glacier 976: 974: 971: 970: 968: 964: 958: 955: 953: 950: 948: 945: 943: 940: 938: 935: 933: 930: 928: 925: 923: 922:Rimpfischhorn 920: 918: 915: 913: 910: 908: 905: 903: 900: 898: 895: 893: 890: 888: 885: 883: 882:Dent d'Hérens 880: 878: 875: 873: 870: 868: 865: 863: 860: 858: 855: 853: 850: 848: 845: 843: 840: 838: 835: 834: 832: 828: 822: 819: 817: 814: 812: 809: 807: 804: 798: 795: 794: 793: 790: 789: 788: 785: 783: 780: 778: 775: 771: 767: 763: 759: 755: 750: 747: 746: 744: 740: 736: 735:Matter Valley 729: 724: 722: 717: 715: 710: 709: 706: 699: 696: 693: 690: 689: 685: 669: 662: 656: 653: 650: 645: 642: 637: 633: 628: 623: 619: 615: 611: 607: 603: 596: 593: 588: 584: 578: 576: 572: 565: 561: 558: 556: 553: 551: 548: 546: 543: 542: 538: 529: 523: 518: 514: 508: 503: 499: 493: 488: 484: 478: 473: 469: 463: 458: 454: 450: 443: 438: 428: 421: 419: 415: 407: 405: 403: 399: 394: 392: 388: 384: 383:hydroelectric 381: 377: 371: 366: 361: 357: 355: 343: 339: 335: 327: 323: 319: 316: 307: 305: 301: 297: 293: 289: 285: 281: 277: 273: 269: 265: 261: 257: 253: 243: 239: 235: 231: 227: 223: 219: 214: 186: 184: 180: 177: 173: 170: 166: 162: 158: 132: 102: 72: 62: 55: 50: 47: 43: 38: 33: 19: 1097:Unterrothorn 1071:Ried Glacier 1066:Bisgletscher 1006: 872:Tête Blanche 867:Dent Blanche 857:Zinalrothorn 700:swisseduc.ch 672:. Retrieved 667: 655: 644: 609: 605: 595: 587:the original 527: 512: 497: 482: 467: 448: 422: 411: 395: 362: 358: 351: 346:Twin Glacier 308: 251: 249: 45: 927:Allalinhorn 842:Brunegghorn 787:St. Niklaus 742:Settlements 387:Lac des Dix 368: [ 280:Switzerland 208: / 183:Coordinates 176:Switzerland 1122:Categories 1107:Schwarzsee 1087:Gornergrat 947:Lenzspitze 917:Strahlhorn 912:Monte Rosa 887:Matterhorn 792:Herbriggen 674:2022-08-31 627:2115/44748 566:References 560:Swiss Alps 398:Gornergrat 344:(English: 340:above the 328:(English: 286:after the 240:Retreating 193:45°58′11″N 952:Nadelhorn 937:Täschhorn 892:Breithorn 852:Weisshorn 830:Mountains 806:Gasenried 762:Riffelalp 636:0148-0227 468:1914–1918 449:1890–1900 270:close to 966:Glaciers 932:Alphubel 837:Barrhorn 797:Mattsand 539:See also 196:7°48′6″E 168:Location 1080:Tourism 957:Balfrin 907:Liskamm 847:Bishorn 811:Grächen 766:Zum See 758:Findeln 749:Zermatt 447:Around 376:Zermatt 365:Gornera 315:Liskamm 274:in the 272:Zermatt 264:glacier 902:Castor 897:Pollux 821:Törbel 634:  338:Pollux 334:Castor 256:German 237:Status 229:Length 172:Valais 32:Görner 782:Randa 777:Täsch 770:Zmutt 664:(PDF) 372:] 816:Embd 754:Ried 649:Foto 632:ISSN 528:2012 513:2007 498:2005 483:1994 336:and 284:Alps 250:The 221:Area 160:Type 942:Dom 622:hdl 614:doi 610:115 1124:: 768:, 764:, 760:, 756:, 666:. 630:. 620:. 608:. 604:. 574:^ 404:. 393:. 370:de 278:, 258:: 174:, 773:) 751:( 727:e 720:t 713:v 677:. 638:. 624:: 616:: 254:( 34:. 20:)

Index

Gornergletscher
Görner

Map showing the location of Gorner Glacier
Map showing the location of Gorner Glacier
Map showing the location of Gorner Glacier
Valais
Switzerland
Coordinates
45°58′11″N 7°48′6″E / 45.96972°N 7.80167°E / 45.96972; 7.80167
German
glacier
Monte Rosa massif
Zermatt
canton of Valais
Switzerland
Alps
Aletsch Glacier
Fiescher Glaciers
clockwise on this map
Grenzgletscher
Unterer Theodulgletscher
Liskamm

Grenzgletscher
Castor
Pollux
Zwillingsgletscher
glacial lake outburst flood
Gornera

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.