The countdown has begun – Winter bacon won’t save the Dachstein Glacier

For two days, the climate researchers struggled their way through the snow masses on the Dachstein. Only after almost seven meters you came across the (still) eternal ice. “In the upper shaft in the area of ​​the Simony scharte, we encountered an old snowpack of ten centimeters at a depth of 6.80 meters – further on, a winter snowpack of 6.40 meters deep lies directly on the ice,” explains Klaus Reingruber from Blue Sky Wetteranalysen from Attnang in Upper Austria.

The measurements on the Hallstatt Glacier are taken every year in late April and early May. “We measure the accumulation, or the amount of snow that the glacier has to live on until the next winter,” Reingruber continues.

Surprised by snow depth
Unlike most other glaciers in Austria, the Dachstein has accumulated more “winter fat” than usual. “We were really surprised that there was still so much snow. In recent years it was normally a little more than six meters,” compares the Upper Austrian.

In theory, conditions should be good for the summer. But Reingruber also makes it clear: “Even in the summer we will be surprised that the snow is gone so quickly.” Because climate change can no longer be stopped on the roof of Styria. According to studies, the glacier on the Dachstein will be history by 2100 at the latest. “Realistically it will probably be sooner. These predictions were probably a bit too optimistic.”