Abstract ID: 3.13142 | Accepted as Poster | Poster | TBA | TBA

Mountain regions are highly dynamic socio-ecological systems in which the cryosphere plays a central role. As an Alpine country, Austria is particularly affected by climate-induced changes in the cryosphere, impacting water resources, ecosystems, and economic sectors such as tourism and hydropower. Consequently, Austria developed measurement programs at an early stage to monitor changes in the cryosphere.

However, heterogeneous funding and administrative structures have led to considerable variability in the accessibility, presentation, and visualization of measurement results. The added value of standardized and jointly processed data has not yet been fully utilized. Similarly, the Austrian research community has lacked a commonly accepted representation of the state and changes of the cryosphere for research, policy, and the public. Despite numerous monitoring programs, developments in the Austrian cryosphere have therefore remained difficult to track.

To address this gap, the Cryosphere Monitoring Austria (KryoMon.AT) initiative was launched in 2022, funded by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection. The goal is to systematically collect, standardize, and provide all climate-relevant long-term measurements of glaciers, snow, lake ice, and permafrost in an accessible format for science, policymakers, and the public. The initiative particularly promotes networking within the research community, harmonization of measurement parameters, and a coordinated presentation of monitoring results.

A significant milestone was the publication of the KryoMon.AT Report in 2023, which for the first time systematically compiled monitoring methods, measurement sites, and changes in Austria’s cryosphere. The results were presented in scientific and public forums to raise awareness and support political decision-making processes. The initiative adheres to Open Science principles, ensuring broad accessibility of reports and all information and datasets used within them.

A follow-up funding by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection secured in 2025 allows the initiative to continue. Two additional KryoMon.AT reports are planned, which will document the latest developments in Austria’s cryosphere in a clear and comprehensible manner. With this, KryoMon.AT makes a crucial contribution to improving the integration and communication of cryosphere data, fostering evidence-based interaction between science and policy.