Obituary Charles Fierz
Charles in front of his home in Davos, June 2018. Photo: Liss M. Andreassen
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Charles Fierz, a snow scientist and admired figure within the cryospheric sciences community. He passed away on 10 December, in Davos, Switzerland, at the age of 67. Charles’ efforts over two decades made a lasting contribution to the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS), the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), and the wider field of snow and ice science.
Charles served with distinction in numerous leadership roles within IACS. In 2004, he joined the predecessor to IACS, the IUGG Union Commission for Cryospheric Sciences, as Head of the Seasonal Snowcover and Avalanches Division. When IACS was officially approved at the 24th IUGG General Assembly in 2007 in Perugia, Italy, Charles became Head of the Snow and Avalanches Division. For this occasion, he coined the term “Festa Cryospherica” for the IACS celebration now customarily held at IUGG and IACS assemblies. He served two terms as Head of Snow and Avalanches (2007–2011 and 2019–2023) before becoming President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President from 2013 to 2019. His dedication to the organisation, to advancing the field of cryospheric science, and to mentoring young scientists and those new to scientific stewardship roles was extraordinary. His invaluable contributions were recognised in 2023, when he was appointed an Honorary Member of IACS – an honour reflecting his tireless efforts on behalf of the Association.
Charles was a team leader at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos, Switzerland, where his work on snow research earned him international recognition. His passion for snow science was evident in his pioneering work on the SNOWPACK model, a key tool in snow cover modelling. He was particularly dedicated to making precise snow measurements, and many young scientists benefited from his instruction at the face of a freshly cut snow profile. His interest in detail made him perfect for developing classifications, and he was a driver of the International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground, leading a working group that produced the widely recognised glossary published by UNESCO in 2009.
A significant part of Charles’s legacy is his work on Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW), a crosscutting activity of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). His meticulous work, which included attending countless meetings, building consensus, and providing detailed technical and scientific contributions, has helped shape best practices for the global measurement of the cryosphere.
Charles’s distinguished career was marked not only by his administrative acumen but also by his exceptional ability to bring people together. His contributions were central to the development of IACS, particularly during its formative years. Among many examples of his long-term commitment, his leadership in the 2019 revision of the IACS statutes and by-laws made a lasting contribution to the organisation’s future. Charles also played a critical role in supporting the IACS Secretariat, offering counsel to two successive Secretaries General, Andrew Mackintosh and Richard Essery. His efforts also included mentoring and bringing in institutional memory for his successors as IACS presidents. His kind guidance has been invaluable.
Charles encouraged scientists from around the world to join the IACS Bureau, to take on higher office, or establish IACS working groups. He had an instinct for recognising those with the right attributes for service roles and encouraged them, graciously but with persistence, until they accepted. Though he did not speak of this explicitly, Charles was a notable supporter of women in research and science, encouraging the careers of many, now prominent, women scientists.
Charles was a quiet yet passionate leader, known for his knowledge, his commitment to collaboration, and his attention to detail. He was a friend and mentor, and his absence will be deeply felt by all those who worked with him. His legacy will continue in the many people he mentored, the research he advanced, and the future of cryospheric science he helped shape, especially in IACS where he was a force. We will miss him.
On behalf of past and present IACS bureau members,
Andrew Mackintosh and Liss M. Andreassen, 15 December 2025