Local glaciers benefit from cool and rainy springs.

Recent measurements and observations of snowpack on local glaciers show a positive trend this spring. Thanks to the cool and snowy spring months, the winter snowpack in the high mountain regions is more stable and thicker than in previous years, according to measurements by glaciologists Andrea Fischer and Hans Wiesenegger (source: https://science.orf.at/stories/3219689/ ).

The snow cover plays a crucial role in protecting glacial ice from intense solar radiation. The later in the summer the ice is exposed, the less pronounced the glacial melt will be. Compared to the severe glacial melts of previous years, which were accompanied by high temperatures and heat waves as early as May, no similar situation is currently emerging.

At the beginning of May, the winter snowpack on the glaciers is measured because it reaches its peak then, before the snowmelt reaches the glaciers. Besides snowpack thickness, the rate of melting is particularly crucial. The summer of 2022 went down in history as an extreme summer for glacial melt because several factors strongly contributed to it. Firstly, the preceding winter was drier. The combination of low precipitation, Saharan sand transported onto the snow surface (which absorbs solar radiation more effectively than white snow), and the heat waves in spring led to the protective snowpack on the glaciers melting prematurely. As a result, the glacial ice in many regions was exposed to summer conditions for several weeks and suffered a significant retreat.

In 2023, the unusually cool and wet April brought a considerable amount of snow to the high mountain regions. According to GeoSphere Austria, it was one of the ten wettest Aprils since records began in 1858. The nationwide overview of snow depths in Austria shows a significant increase, particularly in the high mountain regions, from the beginning of March to the beginning of May. Even at the end of May, the snowpack in the high mountains was still in a wintry state, as there had been no warm spell with summer-like days.

Comparison: Rudolfshütte and Stubacher Sonnblickkees with exposed Sahara sand in May 2022 and May 2023; Photo: Foto-webcam.eu

The glaciologists' measurements therefore show an improved starting point for the upcoming melt season compared to last year. At the Hallstatt Glacier on the Dachstein, Kay Helfricht and Klaus Reingruber report a snowpack that is close to the long-term average. In April, an additional 400 millimeters of precipitation fell, representing a third of the total accumulation at the glacier tongues.

The glaciers in the Hohe Tauern National Park also show similar trends. Average snow depths are found on the north side of the Venedigerkees glacier in Salzburg, while the snow depth on the south side of the Mullwitzkees glacier in Tyrol is slightly below average. The average snow density was also somewhat lower due to the late snowfall.

However, there are also some regions where the snowpack is still below average. The Vernagtferner glacier, which is measured by the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, shows a decrease of about 20 percent compared to the long-term average. Nevertheless, the measurements show an overall improvement compared to the previous year.

This development is particularly important given the increasing rarity of summer snowfall. Sufficient winter snow cover to protect glaciers well into summer is therefore becoming ever more crucial. It forms the basis for us to continue starting ski and snowboard instructor training as early as October, ensuring an adequate staff for local ski schools. It is encouraging to see that current measurements and observations of snowpack on local glaciers indicate a positive trend, giving us confidence for the autumn courses.