Schneeferner

The Northern Schneeferner and the remains of the Southern Schneeferner (left) end of July 2006

The Schneeferner is a glacier in the Bavarian Alps. It is located on the Zugspitze, a sloping from west to east plateau south of the Zugspitze summit, which forms the valley of Reintals. The melting of the glacier water seep into the karstic plateau and occur in Reintal back to the surface where they feed the Partnach. The Schneefernerhaus is one of the northernmost glacier in the Alps.

History

Towards the end of the Little Ice Age in the 19th century was covered by a large glacier, the Plattachferner was called, almost the entire Zugspitzplatt between the Jubiläumsgrat and Platt tips. He then had an area of ​​about 300 ha, and left at his retreat great until today visible moraines.

From about 1860 to the 1950s he lost annually into about 23,000 square feet of space and is eventually shrunk to 60 ha. He split in 1900 into a northern and a southern part; from the northern part separated later the location below the Zugspitze summit Eastern Schneefernerhaus from, who has since disappeared.

Then the areal decline was less dramatic; in particular, the remaining parts of the Northern Schneeferner prone due to their location in a basin rather to sink the surface. Between 1965 and 1968, and 1974-1980 glacier favorable phases even led to a swelling of the glacier; the Southern Snow Furthermore, significant increases in space were recorded.

Since 1980, the glaciers are on the Zugspitze again on the decline. 2006 covered the two remaining glaciers still an area of ​​39 ha; in addition there are a few minor snowfields.

Global warming has led to on the Zugspitze since 1990 consistently above average summer temperatures were observed. Harmful to the glaciers are mainly characterized increasingly rare summer snowfall, the decrease due to the increasing albedo, the energy consumption of the glacier and stop the melting.

Since then melted about 80 cm of ice per year on average. If it should remain at these deposition rates, the glaciers will be gone at some point on the Zugspitzplatt 2015-2030; only minor ice remaining could u.U. last even longer.

Northern Schneefernerhaus

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Northern Schneefernerhaus in September 2009

The Northern Schneeferner, with an area of 28 ha (in 2009 ) the largest German glacier. With an average altitude of 2,630 meters, it is also higher than the other German glacier Höllentalferner, watzmann glaciers and blue ice. His ice thickness was determined in 2006, on average, to 17 m; of the most powerful point was 52 m. The addition runs from west to east, and in particular at the bottom of a very small inclination. North of the glacier is the ridge from the Zugspitze to Zugspitzeck; in the west it extends almost to the broad Schneefernerhaus Charter. To the east and south it is open; also the Schneefernerkopf in the southwest can donate to him in the summer but little shade.

The glacier is fed mainly by precipitation that falls directly on its surface; add to that the snow from avalanches that come down from the rocks of Zugspitzecks and Schneefernerhaus head. The speed at which moves away Glacier, is in the middle range only 25 to 30 cm per year; Mass transport into deeper layers thus takes place hardly. In the steep flanks of the Schneefernerhaus head the flow rate can also be from several meters per year. Here the glacier, however, is almost completely disappeared in recent years and covers his remains of rubble, and there is hardly any accumulation instead.

Management of the glacier

Today, the Northern Schneeferner is the sign of winter sports. Since 1955, 5 lifts were built on the ice, which form the only German glacier skiing; once summer skiing was even possible. The natural evolution of the glacier had to submit to the. Through the pre- work of snow from surrounding areas takes the ice thickness since 1990 in some areas temporarily again.

Since 1993, certain areas of the glacier covered over the summer with tarps to protect the ice and snow of winter from the sun and rain. In the year 2007 9.000 m², ie just under 3% of the glacier have been covered; in previous years, there were 6,000 m². It is hoped by the snow melt rocks, which could hamper the winter sports to be able to delay as long as possible. In the life of the glacier, however, has little effect, because the ice thus obtained is only about 1 % of the loss offsets, which can be expected in the unprotected areas of the glacier. In addition, the areas are preferably covered, in which the glaciers would have disappeared fastest under natural conditions.

The glacier in the summer of 2003 record

On hot days, the ice of the Arctic Schneeferner by up to 11 cm sinks. In August 2003, the glacier was 35,000 cubic meters of water daily from here, which is about one tenth of the average water consumption of Munich. Experts call this enormous ice sheets melting glaciers as noise ( which generate the meltwater streams ).

Southern Schneefernerhaus

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Southern Schneefernerhaus end of August 2003

The Southern Schneefernerhaus once covered the entire southwestern part of the Zugspitzplatt. 2009 was of him only an area of ​​less than 5 ha obtained. His 2006 differs ice thickness was also only very low with an average of less than 5 m. At the end of the 20th century, the glacier has in a southeastern part below the Wetterwandeck and a northwestern part below the weather peaks, which is then divided into the last remaining large ice rink and several smaller snowfields, split. These radicals can no longer be called glaciers today. It is likely that they too will be completely melted in a few years.