northwest where the mountain slopes gently towards Pasterze Glacier. During the
LIA, Mittlerer Burgstall was fully surrounded by two glacier tongues of Pasterze
Glacier. Kellerer-Pirklbauer et al. (2012) presented possible causes (deglaciation,
permafrost degradation, unfavorable geology, unusually warm winter 2006/2007)
for this rock fall event and gave a first estimation on the displaced rock volume. In
the present paper we provide more detailed geomorphometric information.
9.3 Material and Methods
9.3.1 Aerial Surveys 2003, 2006 and 2009
In summer 2003 the temperature in Central Europe was extremely high (Beniston
and Diaz 2004). Due to the heat Austria’s glaciers were almost free of snow from
the previous winter by early summer (mid-August), thus favoring strong glacier ice
melt (Slupetzky and Wiesenegger 2005). An aerial survey of the study area was
carried out on 13 August.
Fig. 9.2 Set of four terrestrial photographs taken in northwesterly direction showing Pasterze
Glacier with its prominent Hufeisenbruch icefall. Date of photography: (a) 1863 (Photo by
Ja ¨germayer G, © Albertina, Vienna, http://www.albertina.at/), (b) 8 August 2003 (Photo by
Lieb GK), (c) 21 September 2006 (Photo by Lieb GK) and (d) 8 October 2009 (Photo by
Hohenwarter G)
9 Glaciological Studies at Pasterze Glacier (Austria) Based on Aerial Photographs
177
LIA, Mittlerer Burgstall was fully surrounded by two glacier tongues of Pasterze
Glacier. Kellerer-Pirklbauer et al. (2012) presented possible causes (deglaciation,
permafrost degradation, unfavorable geology, unusually warm winter 2006/2007)
for this rock fall event and gave a first estimation on the displaced rock volume. In
the present paper we provide more detailed geomorphometric information.
9.3 Material and Methods
9.3.1 Aerial Surveys 2003, 2006 and 2009
In summer 2003 the temperature in Central Europe was extremely high (Beniston
and Diaz 2004). Due to the heat Austria’s glaciers were almost free of snow from
the previous winter by early summer (mid-August), thus favoring strong glacier ice
melt (Slupetzky and Wiesenegger 2005). An aerial survey of the study area was
carried out on 13 August.
Fig. 9.2 Set of four terrestrial photographs taken in northwesterly direction showing Pasterze
Glacier with its prominent Hufeisenbruch icefall. Date of photography: (a) 1863 (Photo by
Ja ¨germayer G, © Albertina, Vienna, http://www.albertina.at/), (b) 8 August 2003 (Photo by
Lieb GK), (c) 21 September 2006 (Photo by Lieb GK) and (d) 8 October 2009 (Photo by
Hohenwarter G)
9 Glaciological Studies at Pasterze Glacier (Austria) Based on Aerial Photographs
177