Index list of over 100 glaciers examined to date
The Sommelier Glacier is close up against the France-Italy border. The glacier is on the north side of Punta Sommelier centered on 3000 meters. The glacier has retreated 1800 meters from its Little Ice Age Maximum and is currently 600 meters long. 
The most notable aspect of the glacier today is its thin nature and the fact that there are three separated and stagnant ice masses (B, C), the main glacier section is outlined in blue. The large deglaciated fluted moraine is noted by point A. 
Within the area of the main glacier there are several rock outcrops protruding indicating the thin and decaying nature of the glacier, note blue placemarks. Also note that the glacier has limited snowcover. Both of these indicate a glacier is not forecast to survive. 
This is not surprising for the Sommelier Glacier given the fate of the nearby Galambra Glacier noted by the Italian Glacier Commission, inn this photo pair from 1954 and 2009. This glacier no longer graces the slopes of Punta Galambra. Punta Sommelier likewise will lose its glacier cover. This is the trend of alpine glaciers in Italy, other examples include Dosde Glacier, Italy and Presena Glacier.
4 thoughts on “Sommelier Glacier, France Disappearing”
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From a Glaciers Perspective 
You got so much good stuff here, but it is hidden. I wish there was a search feature so that people may find their favorite glacier … especially since I just discovered that you update the “older” posts as well … I love it as lay person wanting to know about some glaciers, but not necessarily others.
That sounds good what you will see is that I now keep in the top 15 posts at right an index of glaciers examined. I should put this link at the top of each post. Forgot about that. A good project for a student would be to create a map as you suggest. Too bad I have no geography students.
How long has that glacier existed? Do we know?
This particular glacier has not been the focus of any field work. Based on other locations in the Alps it has existed for at least 5000 years.