Status: 09/02/2022 11:39 a.m
The Hintereisferner is one of the most scientifically studied glaciers in the Alps. Researchers at the University of Innsbruck are sounding the alarm: the glacier has lost five percent of its volume – in just one year.
A glacier in Tyrol that has been under close scientific observation for decades is melting faster than ever. Noisy Data from the University of Innsbruck the Hintereisferner in the Ötztal lost five percent of its total volume this year. “That corresponds to almost 20 million cubic meters of water, about as much as the city of Innsbruck uses in 20 months for drinking water,” said Rainer Prinz from the “Ice and Climate” working group at the Institute for Atmospheric and Cryosphere Sciences.
Two instead of three meters of snow
In the winter months, only two instead of the usual three meters of snow accumulated on the area, and in summer the second highest temperatures ever measured were recorded in the area.
The Hintereisferner, located at the end of a side valley of the Ötztal, has been closely observed for more than 100 years, since 1952 there have been continuous records of its mass balance. According to the university, this makes it one of the best-studied glaciers in the Alps. “These are clear signals of man-made climate change,” said Prinz.
The researchers assume that only half of the Hintereisferner will be left in ten to 20 years. The glacier still covers an area of almost seven square kilometers, making it one of the largest in Tyrol. There are around 900 glaciers in Austria.