New Map Reveals When Glaciers Will Vanish As Planet Warms

Interactive Mapping and Global Projections

The interactive mapping tool lets users look up individual ice formations and compare survival projections across three distinct temperature thresholds: 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius), 4.9 degrees, and 7.2 degrees of warming. At the lowest of these warming levels, annual glacier losses could peak at roughly 2,000 per year. Projections looking toward 2100 indicate that nearly half of today’s glaciers may survive under a 2.7-degree scenario, while that figure drops to about 20% at 4.9 degrees and falls below 10% at 7.2 degrees.

The Outlook in the European Alps

Regional impacts vary widely, with the European Alps facing particularly severe declines. According to project models, roughly 110 glaciers may remain in the Alps at 4.9 degrees of warming, but that count drops sharply to about 20 if warming reaches 7.2 degrees. Switzerland has already documented these changes locally, formally declaring the Bella Tola Glacier extinct in August 2026, alongside the Urirotstock Glacier earlier that same year.

Community Impacts and Water Security

While climate assessments typically emphasize global averages, this mapping tool connects those broad metrics to named glaciers that local communities, tourists, and regional water supplies depend on indirectly. Beyond local water management challenges and shifts in tourism, melting ice sheets contribute directly to sea-level rise, amplifying coastal flooding risks far away from mountain ranges. The tool offers educators, the public, and policymakers a clear visual mechanism to connect emissions pathways to real-world geography.

Frequently Asked Questions