Snow cover, glacier size and melt; runoff variability from a medium size alpine glacier

Abstract ID: 28.7676
|Review Result Accepted as Talk
|Abstract not registered Abstract not registered
| 2025-02-28 10:00 - 10:15
|Presentation Location TBA
Mayer, C.
Lambrecht, A. (1); Hofmeister, F. (1); Wendt, A. (1); and Siebers, M. (1)
(1) Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Alfons-Goppel Str. 11, 80539, Munich, DE
How to cite: Mayer, C.; Lambrecht, A.; Hofmeister, F.; Wendt, A.; and Siebers, M.: Snow cover, glacier size and melt; runoff variability from a medium size alpine glacier, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 - 18 2025, #AGM28-28.7676, 2025.
Categories: Climate Change, Glacial Hydrology
Keywords: glacier runoff, mass balance
Categories: Climate Change, Glacial Hydrology
Keywords: glacier runoff, mass balance
Abstract

Vernagtferner in the Ötztal Alps is a medium-sized alpine glacier with existing long-term observations of glaciological, meteorological and hydrological variables. The runoff characteristics and magnitudes have changed considerably since the first observations in the 1970s, not only because of the development towards more negative glacier mass balances, but also due to changes in the snow cover characteristics, as well as the glacier coverage in the basin. Extreme years concerning negative mass balance, like 2003 and 2022 seem to change the melt conditions fundamentally, also for the subsequent years. Here we present an analysis of the hydro-meteorological time series in comparison to fundamental glaciological variables, which help us to understand the characteristics of melt water production and runoff generation of this high-alpine catchment.