Rockfall, glacier recession, and permafrost degradation: long-term monitoring of climate change impacts at the Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn, Hohe Tauern

Abstract

Abstract. Since 2010, comprehensive geoscientific monitoring has been established in the summit region of the Kitzsteinhorn (“Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn”), which focuses on the investigation of high-alpine climate change impacts in four monitoring domains: air temperature, glaciation, permafrost, and rock stability. Air and near-surface permafrost temperatures are currently rising with mean rates of almost +0.1 °C yr−1. The thickness of the local cirque glacier is decreasing by more than 1 m yr−1. Rockwall monitoring demonstrates that rockfall activity in freshly deglaciated rockwall sections has increased by 1 order of magnitude. The intensity of the observed processes is most likely unprecedented in recent human history. This emphasizes the importance of long-term monitoring efforts such as those carried out at the Kitzsteinhorn for improved geophysical understanding and for safe and sustainable infrastructure operation in high-alpine environments.