How it all began: Standing on the shoulders of giants

Research into the cryosphere has a long tradition in Austria. As early as 1846, Friedrich Simony established the first known glacier measurement mark on an Austrian glacier (Groß et al. 2018, p. 53; Simony 1895, p. 129). In 1882, Ferdinand Seeland established the first cross-section on the Pasterze to measure flow velocity (Wakonigg 1991, p. 273). In 1938, Wolfgang Pillewizer set up movement profiles on the Äußeres Hochebenkar rock glacier (Pillewizer 1957, p. 38). At Lake Lunz, annual measurements of the seasonal lake ice cover began as early as 1905 (Müllner 1924, p. 139), and in Kremsmünster, the number of days with snowfall has been recorded since 1763 (Mohnl 1994, p. 37).

These examples bear witness to remarkable historical commitment and foresight, which paved the way for subsequent generations of scientists. From this early pioneering spirit emerged insights that far exceeded their initial appreciation. What was once regarded as a laborious and of little use niche science laid the foundation for our current understanding of the interactions between climate and the cryosphere. Today, these continuous measurement series not only provide insights into historical changes but also serve as a valuable basis for forecasting future developments.

The first KryoMon.AT report

The first KryoMon.AT report was published at the end of 2023 (Hansche et al. 2023). This report is based on measurements of changes in the cryosphere in Austria dating back to the 19th century. In addition to striking comparative images of the changes, these are also described using internationally recognised parameters such as mass balance, changes in glacier length or the thickness of the active layer in permafrost, presented in the form of diagrams and explanatory texts.

A separate chapter is devoted to each cryosphere component, beginning with a description of the respective component, its relevance in the context of climate change, and an introduction to the measurement methods. This ensures that the changes presented are understandable even to readers without specialist knowledge. Subsequently, the monitoring sites for the respective component (e.g. the Hintereisferner for ‘glaciers’ or the Dösen rock glacier for ‘permafrost’) and the changes documented there are described. The information is supported by numerous images and maps, visual impressions and the highlighting of key information, key figures and facts. Quick to grasp and easy to interpret despite the wealth of information – that is the report’s overarching aim. Individual chapters can therefore be read and understood independently of one another.

The second KryoMon.AT report

The second report, published in early 2026, differs significantly from its predecessor. Whilst the first report was primarily designed to serve as the basis for a future series of regular reports on the cryosphere and therefore contains extensive background information, the new report takes a different approach.

The first report explains, among other things, the data collection methods, describes the measurement sites – such as glaciers, deep boreholes and lakes – and outlines the historical development of the measurements. The current report deliberately omits these details and instead concentrates on a concise and clear presentation of developments in the Austrian cryosphere during the years 2022/23 and 2023/24.

A new addition is the chapter ‘Monitoring – Data that Drive Knowledge’. It highlights that the data collected as part of the long-term monitoring programme is not merely gathered but actively used to gain new insights. The aim is to strengthen understanding of the benefits of these activities.

The report is supplemented by four “Special Stories” – short, maximum two-page articles that shed light on exciting events, experiments or methods.