WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF

Services and products 03.12.2025
New to White Risk: avalanche reporting made easy
New to White Risk: avalanche reporting made easy

This season, citizen scientists have an even simpler and more intuitive way to report avalanches – and so help with avalanche warnings.

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Zwei Personen mit Skistöcken wandern auf einem schneebedeckten Bergpfad. Im Vordergrund ist eine Person unscharf zu sehen, während die zweite Person weiter entfernt und scharf abgebildet ist. Im Hintergrund sind schneebedeckte Berge und ein bewölkter Himmel zu erkennen. Im linken Bildbereich sind halbtransparente Benutzeroberflächen mit Karten, Textfeldern und Symbolen eingeblendet, die Informationen zur Lawinenbeobachtung und zur Meldung von Lawinen, Wummgeräuschen, Kommentaren und Triebschnee zeigen.
 
Research 18.11.2025
By a mountain stream with folding rule and laptop
By a mountain stream with folding rule and laptop

Extreme water temperatures harm people, nature and the economy. The SLF is researching how they occur so that countermeasures can be taken.

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A woman in a red outdoor jacket sits on rocks in a mountainous landscape, writing in a notebook, with a laptop on her lap.
 
Research 12.11.2025
Water causes rock to shift on the Matterhorn
Water causes rock to shift on the Matterhorn

SLF research on the Matterhorn shows how meltwater in permafrost can lead to rock slope instability – a consequence of climate change.

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Rocky ridge with rugged rock formations, surrounded by cloud and with a mountain landscape in the background.
 
Research 06.11.2025
Climate change in the Alps: a potential threat
Climate change in the Alps: a potential threat

SLF researchers are investigating a wide range of climate change impacts in the Alps so that people there can prepare for them.

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Mountain landscape with several snow-capped peaks, clouds, rain, rivers, glaciers and small settlements in the valley.
 

Research for people and the environment in a changing world

NEWS

Research
26.11.2025
A panoramic view of majestic snow-covered mountains under a clear blue sky. The landscape features glaciers and rugged terrain, showcasing the beauty of a winter alpine environment. Snow blankets the ground, creating a serene and untouched atmosphere.

Avalanches sustain glaciers worldwide

An international research team shows that avalanches contribute significantly to the health of many glaciers.

Research
25.11.2025
Mountain village Ftan in the Lower Engadine with green meadows in the foreground and snow-covered peaks of the Swiss Alps in the background.

Mountain climate change: billions at risk

Scientists warn: development faster and more intensely than predicted, with devastating consequences for billions of people.

Institutional
24.11.2025
Man standing in front of a blackboard with physics formulas

“Everything should be made as simple as possible.”

The students of ETH Zurich have voted: SLF researcher Johan Gaume receives the Golden Owl 2025 for excellent teaching.

Services and products
07.11.2025

White Risk is Switzerland's best app

The Best of Swiss Apps jury has named White Risk, the SLF app for avalanche prevention, Master of Swiss Apps.

Services and products
03.11.2025
Diagram shows different tree species in a three-dimensional grid with labels for growth, competition, reproduction, seed production, seed dispersal and mortality.

Top models and hard facts: calculating the world

Forests, rockfalls and insects: researchers at WSL and SLF are modelling nature. How, why and for whom explains the new DIAGONAL.

Research
08.10.2025
Person wearing a colourful knitted hat and yellow scarf sits with medical cables and sensors, surrounded by several people in a tent.

Under the avalanche: survive five times longer

A pump in the backpack supplies buried victims with breathing air – giving rescuers up to five times more time for the rescue.

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AvaBlog

Our experts analyze the avalanche situation.
27 November 2025

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current AvaBlog (in French)