Kleinfleißkees - History

The Kleinfleißkees, with a total area of 0.79 km² (2015), is situated in the Hohe Tauern as part of the Austrian alps. The glacier covers an altitudinal range from 2700 to 3050 m a.s.l., is exposed to W and draining into the Möll river. Between 1850 and 2015, Kleinfleißkees lost 59 % of the glaciated area. Mass balance measurements started 1998/99. The mean annual mass loss of the entire investigation period is 0.7 m w.e. a^-1 and 0.8 m w.e. a^-1 for the last decade. Only two years (2004 and 2014) have a positive mean annual mass balance. Mean values (1981 – 2010) of annual temperature and precipitation at the nearby station at Sonnblick (3105 m a.s.l.) are -5.0 °C and 2114 mm.

Seasonal Mass Changes of Kleinfleißkees.

In autumn 2002 a ice fall event occurred. The glacier tongue break off over a step in the bedrock. In the last years, the glacier retreated above the steep slope. The mean retreat of the front variation between 1980 - 2018 is 11 m. In the last decade, the mean retreat is 3 m.

Ice fall event in autumn 2002 (photo. R. Böhm).

Time series of front variation of Kleinfleißkees.