The glaciers are shrinking in 2025 too

After the autumn's annual fieldwork with front position measurements, we see that the glaciers are still retreating.

This is what Haugabreen Glacier looks like at the end of September 2025, from a hill a few hundred meters in front of the glacier (Photo: Pål Hage Kielland, Norwegian Glacier Museum ).

Haugabreen retreated 25 meters over the past year. In total, the front position has receded almost 200 meters since 2013. The front position measurements were carried out by physical geographer at the Norwegian Glacier Museum, Pål Hage Kielland, and along for the trip he had invited students from climate & environmental studies at Firda High School, in addition to teacher Kristian Kobbenes Starheim and the recently retired principal and glacier guide - Hallgeir Hansen. Also included in the trip was a hike on the ice with the students, where Hallgeir rigged a stand and some ice climbing that the students could practice.

Students from Firda High School had a trip to Haugabreen Glacier, which included ice climbing (Photo: Pål Hage Kielland).

A few days earlier, the front position of Marabreen Glacier had been measured. This glacier is an outlet glacier of Jostedalsbreen Glacier, which must be crossed on the traditional hiking route between Lunde in Jølster and Bøyadalen in Fjærland. The Norwegian Glacier Museum established a new fixed mark for front position measurements in 2024, but measurement difficulties due to a lot of broken ice made it challenging to measure the glacier front accurately. But what can be said is that the Marabreen Glacier has also decreased since 2024. Something that was not very surprising after a hot melting season this summer.

The Marabreen glacier in a new coat of snow at the end of September 2025. Photo: Pål Hage Kielland, Norwegian Glacier Museum .

The results from the measurements are reported to NVE (Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate).