Abstract (eng)
The diploma thesis „Water storage and flow processes in snow, firn and ice: A glacialhydrological
investigation on the alpine glacier Goldbergkees in the Sonnblick Region (Hohe
Tauern, Salzburg, Austria) “analyses various processes of water transport in glaciated
system. It measures in particular cycles and processes of water transport in different glacier
sub-systems in the ablation season of 2006 and are placed it into a temporal context. The
glacier itself is seen as the element of retardation in run-off as storage of water. The
spotlight is on measuring retention times and quantities as well as interacting compounds.
In a first step investigations on terrain characteristics and the selection of representative
experimental positions were done.
Possible test sites were identified by field inspections and careful (GIS).
The application of coloured dye on snow and firn uncovers near surface water transport
processes. In the initial ablation season of 2006, infiltration processes and the progress of
the melt front were investigated. Results showed a slow propagation of meltwater into the
layered snow cover because of a preferentially slope-parallel movement. Water infiltrated
faster through failures in the layered structure and vertical flow fingers in comparison to the
surrounding areas. It resulted in a stepwise intrusion of meltwater.
The main part of the study emphasized on fluorescent dye tracer measurements in order to
gather information about retention times of water in the different parts of glacier drainage
system. By applying fluorescent dyes and their detection on selected points of interest, flow
times were measured. Dye measurements under snow on firn showed significantly reduced
flow velocities in comparision to later en- and subglacial flow measurements.
To measure the englacial flow of water, again fluorescent dyes were used. From measured
data, flow rates under snow respectively on firn and ice, as well as flow velocities in the main
englacial and subglacial channels were derived. Measured passage velocities were between
75 and 133 m h-1 for englacial flow. It could be compared to results from melt/rainfalldischarge
analyses showing overal lag-times of 6-7 hours for July and 4 hours for
September investigations.
Meteorologic and hydrographical data from the Sonnblick Observatory resp. the nearby
gauge station were used to support analyses and results.
The comparison of outputs from different methods provides new information regarding flow
processes and hydrological storage characteristics of a glaciated alpine drainage area.