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Glaciers in the Alps are losing mass at unprecedented and accelerating rates. Monitoring of glacier mass change as well as relevant atmospheric parameters plays an important role in improving understanding of local and downstream impacts. We present subseasonal, seasonal, and annual glaciological mass balance data and meteorological observations from Mullwitzkees and Venedigerkees, two glacier monitoring sites in the Hohe Tauern range of the Austrian Alps. Ablation stake networks were established on Mullwitzkees in 2006/07 and on Venedigerkees in 2011/12. Monitoring is ongoing. In addition to stake readings at subseasonal intervals, accumulation measurements (snow pits and probing) are carried out seasonally. The glaciological data set consists of subseasonal floating date measurements as well as fixed date seasonal and annual values. Fixed date glacier wide mass balance was derived from annual point mass balance values. Automatic weather stations measuring standard meteorological parameters were installed near Mullwitzkees and Venedigerkees in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Meteorological data is provided in 10 minute intervals. Uncertainties for individual point mass balance measurements were computed following the approach of the Swiss glacier monitoring service (GLAMOS), taking into account estimated density and reading errors. The subseasonal mass balance records highlight shorter term variability in mass loss and the linkage with meteorological conditions. The most negative annual point mass balance recorded in the period of record was -5.8 ± 0.66 m w.e. at an elevation of 2536 on Venedigerkees. 2022 stands out as the most negative mass balance year to date in both time series, particularly at higher elevations. The cumulative specific mass balance (glacier wide) over the period of record was -14.68 m w.e. at Mullwitzkees and -8.79 m w.e. at Venedigerkees. Data is available in PANGAEA publication series and the associated datasets. The main publication series are updated annually. The Mullwitzkees mass balance datasets can be found at: doi: 10.1594/PANGAEA.965660 and doi: 10.1594/PANGAEA.965719. The Venedigerkees data can be found at doi: 10.1594/PANGAEA.965648 and doi: 10.1594/PANGAEA.965729. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine ice core research has long focused on a few suitable drilling sites at high elevation in the Western European Alps, assuming that the counterparts at lower elevation in the eastern sector are unsuitable for paleoenvironmental studies, due to the presence of melting and temperate basal conditions. However, it has been demonstrated that even in the Eastern Alpine range, below 4,000 m a.s.l., cold ice frozen to bedrock can exist. In fact, millennial-old ice has been found at some locations, such as at the Weißseespitze (WSS) summit ice cap (Ӧtztal Alps, 3,499m a.s.l.), where about 6 kyrs appear locked into 10mof ice. In this work, we present a full profile of the stable water isotopes (δ18O, δ²H), major ions (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NH4+, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-), levoglucosan, and microcharcoal for two parallel ice cores drilled at the Weißseespitze cap. We find that, despite the ongoing ice loss, the chemical and isotopic signatures appear preserved, and may potentially offer an untapped climatic record. This is especially noteworthy considering that chemical signals of other archives at similar locations have been partially or full corrupted by meltwater (i.e., Silvretta glacier, Grand Combin glacier, Ortles glacier). In addition, the impurity concentration near the surface shows no signs of anthropogenic contamination at WSS, which constrains the age at the surface to fall within the pre-industrial age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the 1970s to the early 2000s, Alpine ice core research focused on a few suitable drilling sites at high elevation in the Western European Alps, assuming that the counterparts at lower elevation in the eastern sector are unsuitable for paleoenvironmental studies, due to the presence of melting and temperate basal conditions. Since then, it has been demonstrated that even in the Eastern Alpine range, below 4000 m a.s.l., cold ice frozen to bedrock can exist. In fact, millennial-old ice has been found at some locations, such as at the Weißseespitze (WSS) summit ice cap (Ӧtztal Alps, 3499 m a.s.l.), where about 6 kyrs appear locked into 10 m of ice. In this work, we present a full profile of the stable water isotopes (δ18O, δ2H), major ions (Na+, Cl-, Br-, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NO32-, SO42-, NH4+, MSA-), levoglucosan, and microcharcoal for two parallel ice cores drilled at the Weißseespitze cap. We find that, despite the ongoing ice loss, the chemical and isotopic signatures appear preserved, and may potentially offer an untapped climatic record. This is especially noteworthy considering that chemical signals of other archives at similar locations have been partially or full corrupted by meltwater (i.e., Silvretta glacier, Grand Combin glacier, Ortles glacier). In addition, the impurity concentration near the surface shows no signs of anthropogenic contamination at WSS, which constrains the age at the surface to falls within the pre-industrial age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]