Scientists have been monitoring the state of the glaciers since 1869. Between 1850 and 1970 alpine glaciers lost at least one third of their surface area and about half their density. When glaciers melt, the outflow of water does not necessarily increase gradually. It is usually dammed by boulders for a certain time, until it breaks through with great destructive force onto the valley below.

In the longer term, glaciers are the source of many of Switzerland's major rivers, including the Rhone. Should they disappear, water levels in these rivers will fall. This will have a knock-on effect on the generation of electricity and on navigation.