Glaciological Monitoring, Venedigerkees, Hohe Tauern, Austria

Glacier mass balance is a sensitive indicator of climate change. Changes in glacier mass result from ablation and accumulation and are directly related to prevailing atmospheric conditions. Since glacier mass balance also governs glacier runoff, it is a valuable parameter for glaciological modelling and has various climatological and hydrological applications. The spatial and temporal storage of water as snow and ice has a significant impact on stream flow of Alpine head waters. Glacier mass balances are vital for gauging the extent of changes in ice firn and snow in different areas for different glaciers. In our case study we will carry out a direct mass balance, particularly a winter and a summer balance.Direct glacier mass balance monitoring is an opportunity to see and measure changes directly on the object of interest in a cautious manner in protected areas.