Microclimatic conditions and modeling possibilities of the Dachstein-Rieseneishöhle

A significant threat to the Dachstein-Rieseneishöhle, one of Austria's most important ice caves and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape, has been identified: rising outdoor temperatures are disrupting winter ice formation, potentially leading to irreversible loss of ice masses. Research comparing climate data from 2018-2020 with archival records since 1950 reveals that average winter temperatures in the cave have increased by over 2°C, while summer periods now exhibit above-freezing conditions—a stark contrast to the sub-zero readings documented between 1956 and 1958. These changes align with regional climate projections for the Eastern Alps, underscoring the cave's vulnerability. While management measures like weather doors and ventilation flaps offer limited mitigation by reducing warm air influx, the study highlights the urgent need for adaptive strategies to preserve this unique microclimate.

Bajka, Z. (2021). Microclimatic conditions and modeling possibilities of the Dachstein-Rieseneishöhle. TU Wien. https://doi.org/10.34726/HSS.2021.94848