Articles | Volume 10, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2941-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2941-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
30 Nov 2016
Research article |
| 30 Nov 2016
Local reduction of decadal glacier thickness loss through mass balance management in ski resorts
Andrea Fischer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
Kay Helfricht
Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
Martin Stocker-Waldhuber
Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
Department of Geography, Physical Geography, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Eichstätt, 85072, Germany
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Cited
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The non-woven geotextiles as strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change on glaciers A. Senese et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103007
- The impact of tourist engagement on low–carbon behavior in glacier tourism X. Lv et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2287396
- Ski Resort vs. Altitude and Latitude: Competitiveness from the Perspective of the Consumers M. Pantić et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020601
- Recent Advances in Radiative Cooling: From Fundamentals to Commercial Applications H. Keawmuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6c00074
- Quantifying the overall effect of artificial glacier melt reduction in Switzerland, 2005–2019 M. Huss et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2021.103237
- Evaluating the effectiveness of artificial covering in reducing glacier melt S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2026.01.011
- Past and future changes of the Austrian climate – Importance for tourism M. Olefs et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100395
- Mountain glacier preservation with artificial interventions: A review F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.114744
- The Tourism Adaptation Classification (TAC) framework: An application to New Zealand's Glacier country S. Strong et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2023.1130918
- Investigating cold based summit glaciers through direct access to the glacier base: a case study constraining the maximum age of Chli Titlis glacier, Switzerland P. Bohleber et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-401-2018
- Seasonal Surface Change of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Eastern Tien Shan, China, Revealed by Repeated High-Resolution UAV Photogrammetry P. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13173398
- Evolution of two cirque glaciers in Lombardy and their relation to climatic factors (1962–2016) W. Hagg et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2017.1368834
- Development of summer skiing days in Austrian glacier ski areas in the first two decades of the twenty-first century M. Mayer & B. Abegg https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02371-6
- Applying artificial snowfall to reduce the melting of the Muz Taw Glacier, Sawir Mountains F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2597-2020
- Quantifying the Artificial Reduction of Glacial Ice Melt in a Mountain Glacier (Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Tien Shan, China) S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14122802
- Assessing the impact of artificial geotextile covers on glacier mass balance and energy fluxes Y. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2024.10.007
- Mitigating ice sheets and mountain glaciers melt with geoengineering F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178450
- Assessing the impact of artificial snowmaking on Dagu Glacier variation: a case study from a tourism glacier Y. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89722-6
- Classifying climate change adaptation measures for ski areas and ski lifts – The case of Bavaria, Germany P. Metzinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.100939
- Applying Artificial Cover to Reduce Melting in Dagu Glacier in the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Y. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071755
- Winter Sports Resorts and Natural Environment—Systematic Literature Review Presenting Interactions between Them M. Żemła https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020636
- The exceptional year of 2022: “deathblow” to glacier summer skiing in the Alps? B. Abegg & M. Mayer https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2023.1154245
22 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The non-woven geotextiles as strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change on glaciers A. Senese et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103007
- The impact of tourist engagement on low–carbon behavior in glacier tourism X. Lv et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2287396
- Ski Resort vs. Altitude and Latitude: Competitiveness from the Perspective of the Consumers M. Pantić et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020601
- Recent Advances in Radiative Cooling: From Fundamentals to Commercial Applications H. Keawmuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6c00074
- Quantifying the overall effect of artificial glacier melt reduction in Switzerland, 2005–2019 M. Huss et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2021.103237
- Evaluating the effectiveness of artificial covering in reducing glacier melt S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2026.01.011
- Past and future changes of the Austrian climate – Importance for tourism M. Olefs et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100395
- Mountain glacier preservation with artificial interventions: A review F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.114744
- The Tourism Adaptation Classification (TAC) framework: An application to New Zealand's Glacier country S. Strong et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2023.1130918
- Investigating cold based summit glaciers through direct access to the glacier base: a case study constraining the maximum age of Chli Titlis glacier, Switzerland P. Bohleber et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-401-2018
- Seasonal Surface Change of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Eastern Tien Shan, China, Revealed by Repeated High-Resolution UAV Photogrammetry P. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13173398
- Evolution of two cirque glaciers in Lombardy and their relation to climatic factors (1962–2016) W. Hagg et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2017.1368834
- Development of summer skiing days in Austrian glacier ski areas in the first two decades of the twenty-first century M. Mayer & B. Abegg https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02371-6
- Applying artificial snowfall to reduce the melting of the Muz Taw Glacier, Sawir Mountains F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2597-2020
- Quantifying the Artificial Reduction of Glacial Ice Melt in a Mountain Glacier (Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Tien Shan, China) S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14122802
- Assessing the impact of artificial geotextile covers on glacier mass balance and energy fluxes Y. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2024.10.007
- Mitigating ice sheets and mountain glaciers melt with geoengineering F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178450
- Assessing the impact of artificial snowmaking on Dagu Glacier variation: a case study from a tourism glacier Y. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89722-6
- Classifying climate change adaptation measures for ski areas and ski lifts – The case of Bavaria, Germany P. Metzinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.100939
- Applying Artificial Cover to Reduce Melting in Dagu Glacier in the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Y. Xie et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071755
- Winter Sports Resorts and Natural Environment—Systematic Literature Review Presenting Interactions between Them M. Żemła https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020636
- The exceptional year of 2022: “deathblow” to glacier summer skiing in the Alps? B. Abegg & M. Mayer https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2023.1154245
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 09 Jun 2026
Short summary
In the Alps, glacier cover, snow farming and technical snow production were introduced as adaptation measures to climate change one decade ago. Comparing elevation changes in areas with and without mass balance management in five ski resorts showed that locally up to 20 m of ice thickness was preserved compared to non-maintained areas. The method can be applied to maintainance of skiing infrastructure but has also some potential for melt management at high and dry glaciers.
In the Alps, glacier cover, snow farming and technical snow production were introduced as...
