Alarming glacier loss: Austria's ice giant melt!

Alarming glacier loss: Austria's ice giant melt!

In a worrying glacier report of the Austrian Alpine Association, it becomes clear that the glaciers in Austria melt at an alarming pace. In the glacier budget year 2023/24 there was an average withdrawal of 24.1 meters, which is the third highest decline in the 134-year history of the glacier measurement service. Special declines were recorded in the Ötztal Alps, where the sex ferner shrank for threatening 227.5 meters. The reason for this dramatic melting process is the exceptionally high temperatures and the drought of the past year, which was 1.9 degrees Celsius warmer than the average. These worrying data can be interacted via the Gletschermonitor of the Alpine Club, the first insight into current and historical glacier measurement data offers.

global meaning of the glacier

The recent results illustrate the global urgency of the glacier shrinkage, which has also attracted internationally the United Nations' attention. These declare in 2025 for the "International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation ". On March 21, 2025, the first World Glacier Day will also be celebrated to emphasize the ecological role of the glaciers sustainably. Gerhard Lieb, head of the glacier measuring service, underlines that the Austrian glaciers are in a critical phase of the decline. Only three out of a total of 90 monitored glaciers remained unchanged in their length. These dramatic declines have a significant effect on the resources for millions of people who are dependent on melting water.

The Pasterzenzen Glacier in the Glockner Group recorded the greatest decline and melted around 203.5 meters, followed by the Rettenbachferner with a loss of 127 meters. The alarming numbers not only illustrate the importance of the glaciers for the global climate, but also the urgency to take suitable measures. Experts warn that the decline of the glaciers in the Alps could mean the end of the glacier landscapes in the next 40 to 50 years. The protective measures now requested should ensure that future generations can also live in a healthy ecological environment, which is more necessary today than ever.