Melting glaciers mean an uncertain future for Europe’s rivers

['Rob Schmitz', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] TPR: The Public's Radio 2025-09-15 09:00:00

The Rhône Glacier in Switzerland is the source of the Rhône River, which flows through Switzerland and France. Swiss glaciers like this one are melting quickly, reduced by nearly two-thirds of their ice over the past century. That’s 2, 3, 4% of the glacier each year.”A view of the Rhône Glacier in Switzerland. Preparing for a glacier-less futureAided with a rope, glaciologist Daniel Farinotti peers down a crevasse formed by glacial meltwater on the Rhône Glacier. (Rob Schmitz | NPR)Back on the Rhône Glacier, glaciologist Farinotti’s team is preparing to test how quickly water is flowing off the glacier.