At the Great Aletsch Glacier, you can see the interplay between glacial ice and rock stability—and how quickly this balance can be disrupted.

Dr. Franzi Glueer, ETH Zurich

Who are you, and what do you do in the Aletsch region?


I am a geological engineer at the Swiss Seismological Service and conduct research on landslides and rockfalls in the Alpine region. For five years, I surveyed the rock slopes near the glacier tongue of the Great Aletsch Glacier and was able to observe the progression of a slow, deep-seated landslide into a rapid mass movement.

How did you get involved in this project?

I was conducting research on landslides in Patagonia and met Prof. Simon Löw from ETH (Engineering Geology) there. After working for a few years at an engineering firm, the Aletsch project drew me back into research at ETH.

How long have you been conducting measurements and research in the Aletsch region? 

In 2013, we set up the first total station there to monitor water levels in the rock walls. I completed my research on the measurement system installed there and the major Moosfluh landslide in 2018. Since then, I’ve been working at the Swiss Seismological Service and conducting research on other landslides in Switzerland. But I keep coming back to Moosfluh.

What are the key findings from your research on the Aletsch Glacier?

I had the great privilege, along with my team of engineering geologists from ETH Zurich, of observing the evolution of a slope from a slow to a rapidly accelerating mass movement—and from the very beginning, since we installed our sensors at a time when Moosfluh was not yet a major concern. It was abundantly clear here that the absence of the glacier’s weight at the base of the slope could trigger a mass movement. It was also evident that the falling groundwater level in the slope, caused by glacial melt, has a major influence on the movement rates. Furthermore, I have researched the mechanism of the Moosfluh slope movement and developed a system for inferring the mechanism at depth based on measured surface movements.

What motivates you to research this topic for so long?

For me, the whole field of natural hazards is somehow a matter close to my heart, and there is still so much to explore at Aletsch—I could keep at it for a long time.

What do you think we humans can do to slow down climate change?

My research focuses more on the effects caused by a changing climate. Right now, I have the opportunity to study many other landslides and rockfalls. It quickly becomes clear just how vulnerable we are compared to the forces unleashed on such a slope. This respect for nature makes us sit up and take notice—and act. Whether that means traveling more sustainably or changing our consumption habits, there are many ways to reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions and thus do something to combat global warming.