Goessnitzkees (Carinthia, Austria):

Goessnitzkees (12°45' E, 46°58' N) is a small debris-covered cirque glacier located in the Schober group of the Hohe Tauern range, Austrian Alps. The glacier covered an area of some 0.75 km² in 1997. In 1982 Goessnitzkees was included into the network of annual glacier measurements of the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV). Since 1982 until now all annual measurements (mid-September) on Goessnitzkees have been carried out by members of the Institute of Geography and Regional Science of the University of Graz (UNI Graz). From 1996 to 1998 a glacier study under the leadership of G.K. Lieb (Institute of Geography and Regional Science, UNI Graz) was carried out in order to reconstruct the glacier history of Goessnitzkees from 1850 (maximum extent of glaciation) until 1997. In 1996 the former Institute of Geodesy of the Graz University of Technology selected Goessnitzkees as a test site for high-mountain studies. A three-dimensional geodetic network was installed for this purpose, comprising also some reference points of the previously described annual measurements for ÖAV.

Goessnitzkees. Photograph taken in September 2004. The viewing direction is from the photogrammetric baseline in a south-easterly direction.

References (selected):

Lieb, G.K. und Kaufmann, V. (1985): Vier Jahre Gletschermessung in der Schobergruppe. Kärntner Naturschutzblätter, 24. Jg., S. 123-135. [ Paper ]

Buchenauer, H.W. (1990): Gletscher- und Blockgletschergeschichte der westlichen Schobergruppe (Osttirol). Marburger Geographische Schriften 117, in German, 276 p.
Lieb, G.K. und Sulzer, W. (1993): Gletschermessungen in der Schobergruppe 1982-1992. GeoGraz, Heft 12, Institut für Geographie, Universität Graz, 4-6. [ PDF ]
Lieb, G.K. (1996): Permafrost und Blockgletscher in den östlichen österreichischen Alpen. Arbeiten aus dem Institut für Geographie der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz 33, in German, 9-125.
Kaufmann, V. (1998): Gößnitz- und Hornkees, Schobergruppe, Luftbildkarte 1:10 000. Befliegung 1.9.1997, Blattschnitt 48 cm x 40 cm, ehem. Institut für Angewandte Geodäsie, Abteilung für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung, TU Graz, 48 cm x 40 cm. [ Karte/Map ]
Krobath, M. (1999): Naturräumliche Ausstattung des Talschlusses der Gössnitz (Schobergruppe). Unpublished diploma thesis, University of Graz, in German, 62 p.
Kaufmann, V., Krobath, M., Lieb, G.K. und Sulzer, W. (1999): Gössnitzkees- und Hornkees - die Entwicklung zweier Kargletscher der Schobergruppe (Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, Kärnten) seit dem Hochstand 1850. Endbericht zum Forschungsprojekt (Projektleiter: G.K. Lieb) des Kärntner Nationalparkfonds, Institut für Geographie, Universität Graz, 76 Seiten, mit zahlreichen Farbabbildungen und einer Luftbildkarte 1:10.000 „Gößnitz- und Hornkees, Schobergruppe". [ Abstract ]

Kaufmann, V., Plösch, R., Javurek, P. and Lieb, G.K (1999): Investigations on the retreat of two small cirque glaciers (Goessnitzkees and Hornkees) in the Austrian Alps, Europe. Video-film produced at Studio AV-Media CIS, Graz University of Technology, 12 min 30 sec, including computer animations of the glacier retreat. [ YouTube ]
Lieb, G.K. (2000): Die Flächenänderung von Gößnitz- und Hornkees (Schobergruppe, Hohe Tauern) von 1850 bis 1997. In: Festschrift für Heinz Slupetzky zum 60. Geburtstag, Salzburger Geographische Arbeiten, 36, 83-96.
Kaufmann, V., Plösch, R. (2000): Reconstruction and visualization of the retreat of two small cirque glaciers in the Austrian Alps since 1850 - From static maps towards dynamic computer animation. In: Buchroithner, M. (Ed.), High Mountain Cartography. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium of the Commission on Mountain Cartography of the International Cartographic Association, Alpine Centre Rudolfshütte, Salzburg, Austria, 29 March – 2 April 2000, Kartographische Bausteine, Band 18, Dresden University of Technology, pp. 239-253. [ Abstract] [ Paper text only] [ Video ] [ YouTube ]

Kaufmann, V. and Ploesch, R. (2000): Mapping and visualization of the retreat of two cirque glaciers in the Austrian Hohe Tauern National Park. International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Vol. XXXIII, Part B4, Amsterdam 2000, pp. 446-453. [ Abstract ] [ Paper ] [ Video ] [ YouTube ]
Kaufmann, V. (2001): Quantitative Erfassung der Morphodynamik von Gletschern und Blockgletschern - Projekte und methodische Untersuchungen im Nationalpark Hohe Tauern. Proceedings "Symposion zur Forschung im Nationalpark Hohe Tauern", 15-17 November 2001, Burg Kaprun, Salzburg, Austria, p. 217-223. [ Abstract ] [ Paper ]
Kaufmann, V. and Lieb, G.K. (2002): Investigations on the retreat of two small cirque glaciers (Goessnitzkees and Hornkees) in the Austrian Alps, Europe. High-Mountain Remote Sensing Cartography 1998 - Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on the Use of Remote Sensing Data in Mountain Cartography, Karlstad University Studies 2002:27, pp. 75-82. [ Abstract ] [ Paper ]

Kaufmann, V. and Plösch, R. (2002): Computer animation of the retreat of two small cirque glaciers in the Austrian Alps since the Little Ice Age advance of 1850. Proceedings East-West-Vision 2002, International Workshop & Project Festival, Computer Vision, Computer Graphics, New Media, September 12-13, 2002, Graz, Austria, Österr. Computer Gesellschaft, Band 163, pp. 277-278. [ Paper ]
Kaufmann, V. und Ladstädter, R. (2004): Terrestrisch-photogrammetrische Dokumentation des Gletscherrückgangs am Gössnitzkees (Schobergruppe, Nationalpark Hohe Tauern). In: Hubmann, B. & Piller, E. (Hrsg.): Pangeo Austria 2004 - Beitragskurzfassungen. - Ber. Inst. Erdwiss., K.-F.-Univ. Graz, 9, S. 204-207. [ Paper ] [ Paper ] [ Poster ]
Kaufmann, V. and Ladstädter, R. (2004): Documentation of the retreat of a small debris-covered cirque glacier (Goessnitzkees, Austrian Alps) by means of terrestrial photogrammetry. Proceedings of the 4th ICA Mountain Cartography Workshop, 30 September - 2 October 2004, Vall de Núria, Catalonia, Spain, Monografies tècniques 8, Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya, Barcelona, 65-76. [ Abstract ] [ Paper ]
Kienast, G. and Kaufmann, V. (2004): Geodetic measurements on glaciers and rock glaciers in the Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria). Proceedings of the 4th ICA Mountain Cartography Workshop, 30 September - 2 October 2004, Vall de Núria, Catalonia, Spain, Monografies tècniques 8, Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya, Barcelona, 101-108. [ Paper ]
Kaufmann, V. and Ladstädter, R. (2005): Glacier monitoring by means of terrestrial photogrammetry: A case study in the Hohe Tauern National Park. Conference Volume, 3rd Symposion of the Hohe Tauern National Park for Research in Protected Areas, 15-17 September 2005, Kaprun, Austria, 91-95. [ Poster ]
Kaufmann, V., Kenyi, L.W. and Avian, M. (2005): Messung der Fließgeschwindigkeit von Gletschern mittels satellitengestützter Radar-Interferometrie in der Schobergruppe (Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, Kärnten). Endbericht zum Forschungsprojekt (Projektleiter V. Kaufmann) des Kärntner Nationalparkfonds, Institut für Fernerkundung und Photogrammetrie, TU Graz, 59 Seiten, mit zahlreichen Farbabbildungen und 2 Luftbildkarten. [ Contents ]

Kellerer-Pirklbauer, A., Bauer, A. and Proske, H. (2005): Terrestrial laser scanning for glacier monitoring: Glaciation changes of the Gößnitzkess glacier (Schober group, Austria) between 2000 and 2004. Conference Volume. 3rd Symposium of the Hohe Tauern National Park for Research in Protected Areas, 15-17 September 2005, Kaprun, Austria, 97-106. [ Paper ]
Kaufmann, V. and Ladstädter, R. (2008): Documentation of the Retreat of Gössnitzkees and Hornkees glaciers (Hohe Tauern Range, Austria) for the Time Period 1997-2006 by Means of Aerial Photogrammetry. Proceedings of the 6th ICA Mountain Cartography Workshop, 11-15 February 2008, Lenk, Switzerland, 115-123. [ Abstract ] [ Paper last access 28.3.2009] [ Paper ]
Kaufmann, V. and Ladstädter, R. (2008): Application of Terrestrial Photogrammetry for Glacier Monitoring in Alpine Environments. IAPRS, Vol. 37, Part B8, Proceedings of the 21st Congress of ISPRS, Beijing, China, 3-11 July 2008, 813-818. [ Paper ]
Kaufmann V. (2010): Dokumentation des Gletscherrückgangs am Gössnitzkees (Schobergruppe, Hohe Tauern) für den Zeitraum 1988-2009 mittels terrestrischer Photogrammetrie. DGPF Tagungsband 19/2010, Dreiländertagung OVG, DGPF und SGPF, 1.-3. Juli 2010, Wien, 513-522. [ Paper ]

Kaufmann, V. (2011): Application of terrestrial photogrammetry for glacier monitoring in Alpine environments. PermaNET, Permafrost Long-term Monitoring Network, Final Conference, Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France, June 28 - July 1, 2011. [ Presentation: ppt ] [ Presentation: pdf ]
Triglav Čekada, M., Zorn, M., Kaufmann, V. and Lieb, G.K. (2012): Measurements of small alpine glaciers: examples from Slovenia and Austria. Geodetski vestnik (Journal of the Association of Surveyors of Slovenia), 56(3), 462-481. [ free download http://www.geodetski-vestnik.com/index_eng.htm ] [ Paper ]
Paar, G., Huber, N.B., Bauer, A., Avian, M. and Reiterer, A. (2012): Vision-Based Terrestrial Surface Monitoring. In: Biswajeet, P. and Buchroithner, M. (2012): Terrigenous Mass Movements - Detection, Modelling, Early Warning and Mitigation Using Geoinformation Technology, Springer-Verlag, 283-348. [ DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-25495-6 ]
Kellerer-Pirklbauer, A. und Kaufmann, V. (2015): Dem Klimawandel auf der Spur! Beispiele aus der Landschaft rund um die Elberfelderhütte. In: Folder "Elberfelder Hütte", http://www.dav-barmen-wuppertal.de/de/. [ Folder ]
Kaufmann, V. and Seier, G. (2016): Long-term monitoring of glacier change at Gössnitzkees (Austria) using terrestrial photogrammetry. Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLI-B8, 495-502, doi:10.5194/isprs-archives-XLI-B8-495-2016. [ Paper ] [ Paper ]
Kaufmann, V. und Sulzer, W. (2019): Dokumentation des Gletscherrückgangs am Gössnitzkees für den Zeitraum 1982-2018 – eine Gletschergeschichte mit Ablaufdatum. Publikationen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation e.V., Band 28, T. Kersten (Hrsg.), 39. Wissenschaftlich-Technische Jahrestagung der DGPF, 20.-22. Februar 2019, Universität für Bodenkultur, Wien, 572-586. [ Paper ] [ Paper ] [ Tagungsband ]
Gletschermonitor: Gössnitzkees. Quelle: Alpenverein Österreich. Messverantwortlich für das Gössnitzkees: Michael Krobath (Graz)

Stereopair (terrestrial photographs)


Goessnitzkees left stereo partner	Goessnitzkees right stereo partner	Goessnitzkees anaglyph

Terrestrial photographs were taken on August 25, 2007. © Victor Mercator

For more information on the Gössnitzkees geodetic measurements, please see http://www.staff.tugraz.at/viktor.kaufmann/Goessnitzkees/
Visualization of the Gössnitzkees glacier change by animated gifs: http://www.staff.tugraz.at/viktor.kaufmann/animations.html

last update: july 26, 2025

Goessnitzkees (Carinthia, Austria):

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