Glacier mass balances and elevation zones of Hintereisferner, Ötztal Alps, Austria, 1952/1953 to 2010/2011

The annual glacier mass balance of Hintereisferner (HEF) in the Ötztal Alps has been measured since 1952-10-01 with the direct glaciological method in the fixed date system (yyyy-10-01 to yyyy-09-30 of the following year). On Hintereisferner, the accumulation of snow is measured by determination of the water equivalent in 6 snow pits, the ice ablation is measured with about 50 stakes drilled into the ice. Results are the annual net mass balance in kg, the total accumulation and ablation, the glacier area and the portions of the area which are subject to ablation and accumulation, the elevation of the equilibrium line and the specific mass balance in kg/m**2 (= mm w.e.). The accumulation during the winter is determined by the 1 May. New data will be added every year.