Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps
Ice caves are, similar to mountain glaciers, threatened by the warming climate. To better understand the response of perennial ice in caves to a changing climate, we analysed the thermal characteristics of a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps ( Hundsalm ice cave), based on long-term temperature...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:141671e8124246d585f66b93c3bc304c 2023-05-15T18:32:28+02:00 Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps M. Wind F. Obleitner T. Racine C. Spötl 2022-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3163-2022 https://doaj.org/article/141671e8124246d585f66b93c3bc304c EN eng Copernicus Publications https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/3163/2022/tc-16-3163-2022.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-16-3163-2022 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/141671e8124246d585f66b93c3bc304c The Cryosphere, Vol 16, Pp 3163-3179 (2022) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3163-2022 2022-12-30T22:46:46Z Ice caves are, similar to mountain glaciers, threatened by the warming climate. To better understand the response of perennial ice in caves to a changing climate, we analysed the thermal characteristics of a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps ( Hundsalm ice cave), based on long-term temperature measurements for the period 2008–2021. Observations show a warming trend in all parts of the cave as well as a distinct seasonal pattern with two main regimes, i.e. an open (winter) and a closed (summer) period. During the closed period, a persistent stable stratification prevails that largely decouples the cave from the external atmosphere. The open period is characterised by unstable to neutral stratification, which is an effect of convection during episodes when cold air can penetrate into the cave. Criteria to detect corresponding periods are investigated. Vertical temperature profiles also provide hints on corresponding circulation patterns and the spatial temperature variability in the cave. The positive air temperature trend is reflected in a decrease in perennial cave ice, derived from stake measurements. Besides surface melting, we find compelling evidence of basal melting of ice. The observed ablation rates can be well reproduced by applying a modified degree-day model, which, however, is less feasible regarding mass balance. Overall, we conclude that Hundsalm ice cave is highly impacted by regional warming, which will lead to the disappearance of its perennial ice deposits within the next decades. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Cryosphere 16 8 3163 3179 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 M. Wind F. Obleitner T. Racine C. Spötl Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Ice caves are, similar to mountain glaciers, threatened by the warming climate. To better understand the response of perennial ice in caves to a changing climate, we analysed the thermal characteristics of a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps ( Hundsalm ice cave), based on long-term temperature measurements for the period 2008–2021. Observations show a warming trend in all parts of the cave as well as a distinct seasonal pattern with two main regimes, i.e. an open (winter) and a closed (summer) period. During the closed period, a persistent stable stratification prevails that largely decouples the cave from the external atmosphere. The open period is characterised by unstable to neutral stratification, which is an effect of convection during episodes when cold air can penetrate into the cave. Criteria to detect corresponding periods are investigated. Vertical temperature profiles also provide hints on corresponding circulation patterns and the spatial temperature variability in the cave. The positive air temperature trend is reflected in a decrease in perennial cave ice, derived from stake measurements. Besides surface melting, we find compelling evidence of basal melting of ice. The observed ablation rates can be well reproduced by applying a modified degree-day model, which, however, is less feasible regarding mass balance. Overall, we conclude that Hundsalm ice cave is highly impacted by regional warming, which will lead to the disappearance of its perennial ice deposits within the next decades. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
M. Wind F. Obleitner T. Racine C. Spötl |
author_facet |
M. Wind F. Obleitner T. Racine C. Spötl |
author_sort |
M. Wind |
title |
Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps |
title_short |
Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps |
title_full |
Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps |
title_fullStr |
Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps |
title_full_unstemmed |
Multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the Austrian Alps |
title_sort |
multi-annual temperature evolution and implications for cave ice development in a sag-type ice cave in the austrian alps |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3163-2022 https://doaj.org/article/141671e8124246d585f66b93c3bc304c |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 16, Pp 3163-3179 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/3163/2022/tc-16-3163-2022.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-16-3163-2022 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/141671e8124246d585f66b93c3bc304c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3163-2022 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
3163 |
op_container_end_page |
3179 |
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1766216586313596928 |