According to experts, Austria’s glaciers have shrunk extremely in the past two years and, in their opinion, will have practically disappeared in a few decades. “In 40 to 45 years, Austria will be largely ice-free,” said Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer from the Institute for Geography and Spatial Research at the University of Graz. Of the 93 glaciers observed, all but one would have lost length from 2022 to 2023.
The decline in the Pasterze at the foot of the Großglockner is particularly clear: a loss of 203.5 meters was measured here, as shown in the current glacier report by the Austrian Alpine Association (ÖAV), which was presented in Salzburg. The 203 meters means a loss of 14.03 million cubic meters of ice.
On average, the 93 glaciers retreated by 23.9 meters in the last observation year, which is the third highest value in the 133-year history of the Alpine Club’s measurements. The decline was even greater in 2021/22 at 28.7 meters and in 2016/17 at 25.2 meters. This means that all three maximum values were registered in just seven years.
According to experts, the end of the glaciers in Austria can no longer be prevented in view of climate change. “The system is too sluggish,” said Gerhard Karl Lieb from the ÖAV glacier measuring service. “Nothing works here anymore.” Restrictive climate protection measures would also come too late. On a global level, however, there is still something to be achieved.
Recently, scientists have also measured enormous ice loss on glaciers in Greenland and New Zealand. The melting of glaciers is considered one of the clearest signs of human-caused climate change.