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Last updated   01 July 2008

The Alpenverein Glacial Report 2005/06

NEWS BULLETIN:       Glacial disappearance still dramatic

Neither the snow-rich winter in northerly locations nor the glacier-friendly August 2006 could stop the trend of retreat of the glaciers. And it follows that the continuing significant mass losses lead to large longitudinal decreases.

From 105 glaciers currently under observation longitudinal alterations have been determined for 102. There are no results from the remaining three glaciers.

At only one glacier, was a small extension registered. Four glacial tongues remained unchanged, all others melted back partially.

The average longitudinal alteration for the fiscal year 2005/06 amounted to -15.8 m, an insignificant change in comparison to the previous year (-16.3 m).

The Record holder in the year 2005 is the Horn Kees (Zillertaler Alps) with a longitudinal loss of 84.0 m, followed by the Schmiedinger Kees (Glocknergruppe) -70.5 m, and the Gaisberg Ferner (Ötztaler Alps) -70.0 m.

4 glaciers have receded by more than 50 m and 20 glacial tongues have receded between 20 and 40 m.

The single glacier which extended was the Freiger Ferner (Stubaier Alps) with +1.9 m. The hollow-formed, broken ice at the rubble-free end of the Pasterze leads to the conclusion that an outstandingly big retreat is imminent.

The outflow has flushed out peat remains from under the ice in the last year, indicating that the Pasterze was clearly once smaller. Examinations of it will provide exact dating.

Patzelt finds this development extremely exciting and thinks, "maybe the strong glacial decline is no tragedy, and it gives indications of the past climate and shows that the present development at the glaciers is nothing exceptional."

The Gletschermessteam under the management of Univ. - Professor Dr. Gernot Patzelt currently comprises 17 honorary "glacier workers" and several helpers, who together take care of the 19 report areas.

Top 10 – retreats metres

1 Horn Kees

(Zillertaler Alps)

 -84.0
2 Schmiedinger Kees                 (Glocknergruppe) -70.5
3 Gaisberg Ferner

(Ötztaler Alps)

 -70.0
4 Schalf Ferner

(Ötztaler Alps)

 -52.2
5 Triebenkarlas Ferner

(Stubaier Alps)

 -38.0
6 Niederjoch Ferner (Ötztaler Alps) -36.2
7 Vernagt Ferner (Ötztaler Alps) -32.4
8 Hintereis Ferner (Ötztaler Alps) -30.0
9 Frosnitz Kees

(Venediger group)         

-28.1
10 Gepatsch Ferner Ötztaler Alps) -28.0

The Full Report will be published in April, in the Alpine Club magazine "Bergauf."
You may also download it as a PDF file (in German) from here.   

 

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Last updated:     16 April 2007