Swiss glaciers lose 5% after heatwaves
'Catastrophic year' as Swiss glaciers lose 5% of ice after heatwaves
Thursday, 1 October 2026
Warm-up
- What comes to mind when you hear the word glacier?
- Have you ever experienced a heatwave? What was it like?
- How can winter snowfall affect the next summer in the mountains?
Vocabulary
- glacier
- A large mass of moving ice found in high mountains.
- heatwave
- A long period of very hot weather.
- melt
- To change from solid to liquid because of heat.
- record
- The highest or lowest level ever measured.
- warn
- To tell people about danger so they can be careful.
- percentage
- An amount out of every hundred.
- snowfall
- The amount of snow that falls during a period.
- temperature
- How hot or cold the air is, measured by a number.
Reading
Listen to this story
American EnglishScientists in Switzerland warned that the country's glaciers have had a catastrophic year. They said the ice loss reached about 5% in 2026, which is an enormous percentage for a single year. The glaciers kept melting after a winter with too little snowfall and a summer of heatwaves.
Researchers said temperatures were at record highs across Europe this summer. Because there was not enough fresh snow to protect the ice, dark glacier surfaces absorbed more sunlight and melted faster.
Experts explained that a healthy winter snow layer can slow spring and summer melt, but this year it was thin. They added that repeated heat made recovery impossible. Switzerland is known for its mountain tourism, and scientists warned that more years like this could reshape its icy landscape.
Comprehension
- What percentage of glacier ice was lost in 2026?
- What two seasons are linked to the ice loss?
- What summer event made the melt worse?
- Why did the glaciers absorb more sunlight than usual?
- Where were temperatures at record highs this summer?
Grammar focus
Reported speech
Use a past reporting verb (said, warned, explained) + that-clause to report statements. After a past verb, tenses usually shift back: am/is/are→was/were; do→did; will→would; can→could; past→had + pp. For example: "Scientists say the ice is melting" becomes "Scientists said the ice was melting".
- They said the ice loss reached about 5% in 2026.
- Researchers said temperatures were at record highs this summer.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with reported speech: write the correct form.
- Scientists said dark glacier surfaces (absorb) ___ more sunlight that summer.
- Experts explained the thin snow (make) ___ melt faster that year.
- Researchers said hot air (move) ___ over the region by then.
- Scientists warned more such years (reshape) ___ glaciers in future.
- They added recovery (be) ___ impossible after repeated heat.
Discussion
- How might glacier loss affect travel and jobs in Switzerland?
- What actions could reduce melt during future heatwaves?
- Should countries warn tourists when temperatures hit record highs?
- What changes have you noticed in local weather recently?
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