active glacier protection in austria an adaptation

Active Glacier Protection in Austria-

An adaptation strategy for glacier skiing resorts

Presented by

Marc Olefs

Ice and Climate Group, Institute of Meteorology And Geophysics, University of Innsbruck

Centre for Natural Hazard Management, Innsbruck

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Marc Olefs | OECD – WENGEN 2006 WORKSHOP, 4 October 2006

PROBLEMS: Shrinking Glaciers

• Alpine Glaciers since 1850: – High area and volume loss

CH: 1850 -1998: -39% areaA: 1850 → 1000 km² ; 2006: ~ 400-450 km²

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Ice melt: Kesselwandferner (Ötztal Alps), Jochdohle(Stubai Alps)

Melt period 2003: 2965 m a.s.l. 1980 – 2006: 3100 m a.s.l.

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Specific Problems and critical zones

• Increased Maintenance Costs due to: – Stronger melting around ski-lift pylons– Subsidence of the glacier surface and

increasing distance to the glacier margin (ski-lift stations, buildings) → structural measures

• Worry about thin-ice areas– Future perspectives– Rock outcrops– Steepening of slopes and ski lift tracks

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• Subsidence of the surface & increased distance to margin

Mittelbergferner (Pitztal):3400 m a.s.l.

Schaufelferner(Stubai; 2870 m a.s.l.)

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• Rock outcrops, steepening of terrain, ski-lift pylons

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What can we do?

Modify the mass balance:Increase Accumulation or decrease Ablation!

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Project Structure & Objectives

• Duration: July 2004 – July 2006

• Cooperations:– 3 Institutes (University of Innsbruck)– 4 glacier skiing resorts & other companies

• Goal: Comparative evaluation of technical methods to reduce snow & ice ablation within glacier skiing resorts

• Investigations: Mass & energy balance; Biota; Biodegradability

• Main test area: Glacier ski resort Stubai

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Overview Measurement results 2004

Intercomparison of potential cover materials

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10. 8. 2005

25 different blanketsof different materials

Thickness effect

Biological investigations

Test of operational fleece (320 m²)

2 weather stations (Radbal (4 comp.),T,RH,ff,dd,SHGT,rain)

Reference area

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Average ablation rates [cm d-1] (22 June 05 – 16 Sept 05 (86 days):

Reference: 3.2Fleece cover: 1.3

Covering: average ablation reduction 60 %

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Melt rates:Reference: 3.9 cm/dFleece: 1.5 cm/d

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• 2960 m a.s.l.; Southerly Exposition: 3.3 m of ice vs. 72 cm of snow


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Visible effects 2004-2006

2004 2006

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2004

2006

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FAQ

? What areas are covered? Do you cover whole glaciers?2006: 28 ha (0.11 mi²/40 pitches) (4 Tyrolean glacier skiing resorts/ 5-10 ha per resort); 3% of the total resort areas. < 1 %o of Tyrolean glacier area.No! Limited to skiing resorts and critical patches (time & money problem).

? How much does it cost?Material ~1 €/m² ; Work (placement/removal, fixing systems) ~1-2 €/m² → 2-3 €/m²

? Are the materials removed during Winter?Yes → max. of winter snow under the cover

? What about biologically degradable materials?Not used → less effective + import of too much biota + long decomposition time

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FAQ

? Is there an impact on runoff/hydrology?Negligible! (small areas)

? Is this an environmentally-friendly solution?Yes, absolutely. Comparison of melt water and biota under the covers / undisturbed area shows no negative impact.

? How effective is this?The melt is reduced by around 60%! (mean over 3 melt periods 2004-2006)

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Conclusion/Perspectives

Covering of critical patches within glacier skiing resorts is an effective & practical method Reduction of maintenance costs and structural measures Maintenance of operation is extended in time

Gain of attractiveness now and in the futureContribution to the sustainable development of concerned alpine regionsSafeguard of jobs and market

Preservation of social structures and cultural area

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Film: Webcam melt period 2005

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Thank you!

“Already doing today what others first think of tomorrow -Cause steady is only the change! ”

Heraklit (540-480 BC)

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Jochdohle, August 2004 (Stubai Alps; 3100 m a.s.l.)

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-2000

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1952

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1955

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1958

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1961

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1964

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1967

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1970

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1973

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1976

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1979

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1982

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1985

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1988

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1991

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1994

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1997

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Balance Years

Mass balance HEF (1952-2005)

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• Elevation loss Hintereisferner 1979-1997

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What can we do?

1. Understand the system!Ice forms (snow)(high elevation)

…and melts here!Ice flows

Accumulation AblationIce-dynamicsProject Active glacier protection: How can we influence this system ?

Mass balance

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Mass balance of a glacier

Mass lossPrecipitationAvalanchesSnow driftSuperimposedIce

Accumulation

Icedynamics

RadiationTemperatureRel. HumidityWindRain

Ablation

ElevationSlope, Aspect

Surface Roughness, Topography

Increase Accumulation or decrease Ablation!

Mass gain

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Average ablation rates [cm d-1] (22 June 05 – 16 Sept 05 (86 days):Reference: 3.2Water injection: 3.1Compaction: 3.0Fleece cover: 1.3

Covering: average ablation reduction 60 %

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• Ski lift track becomes steeper and steeper…

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Autumn 2004

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Finish area Alpine Ski World Cup Sölden

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Big air Kaunertal…

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Snow management Strategies

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• Alpine Glaciers since 1850: – High area and volume loss

CH: 1850 -1998: -39% areaA: 1850 → 1000 km² ; 2006: ~ 400-450 km²Example eastern Alps: Glacier Hintereisferner

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Weißkugel Oberflächenhöhe 1997 in m

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Overview

× Problems– Shrinking glaciers– Specific Problems and Critical zones (Glacier skiing

resorts)• What can we do?

Solutions:– Local modification of the glacial mass budget: The

project Active Glacier Protection– Overview Measurements Results 2004, 2005, 2006– Visible effects (2004 → 2006)– Other examples….

• FAQ• Conclusion/Perspectives • Short Film

active glacier protection in austria an adaptation

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