Cryosphere Now: Glaciers and Ice Caps
The most recent glacier and ice cap information is given below. Hover over a thumbnail to get the full image, description, and credits.Important: The products shown on the "Cryosphere Now" pages provide a variety of perspectives on the state of the cryosphere. They are for purposes of illustration and comparison and are not necessarily endorsed by GCW as "authoritative".
Northern Hemisphere:
Glacier Mass Balance![]() ![]() Glacier mass balance data were provided by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). Mass balance values in mm water equivalent. Note that 'reference' glaciers are those with long-term observation series, i.e. > 30 years. All but one of reference glaciers are in the Northern Hemisphere. Reference: WGMS (2012): Fluctuations of Glaciers 2005-2010 (Vol. X): Zemp, M., Frey, H., Gärtner-Roer, I., Nussbaumer, S.U., Hoelzle, M., Paul, F. & W. Haeberli (eds.), ICSU (WDS)/ IUGG (IACS)/ UNEP/ UNESCO/ WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland. Based on database version doi: 10.5904/wgms-fog-2012-11. |
Southern Hemisphere:
(No information yet) |
Other Resources:
- Glacier image and velocity timeseries from the CryoPortal