1146 | 652 | Dwindling glaciers – the impact of climate change on geographical names in the Austrian Alps | Regina Falkensteiner

Topographic maps have been an important source of information about geographical names for centuries and reflect any changes in naming places. Due to the changing climate conditions in high mountain regions, there has been a significant retreat of glaciers, in particular since the second half of the 20th century, which has had an impact on toponomastics._x000D_
The geographical names on the Austrian map 1:50000 (ÖK50) serve as the data basis. By means of this dataset, a diachronic analysis of glacier names in Austrian national surveys (“Landesaufnahmen”) has been carried out, going back as far as the second half of the 18th century. _x000D_
Changes in toponyms in the Austrian Alps are being presented using selected glacier regions as examples such as Obersulzbachkees (Venediger Group) or Pasterze, Austria’s largest glacier (Glockner Group)._x000D_
When examining glacier names, several types of toponymic changes can be identified and some of them are presented here:_x000D_
1) As a result of the retreat of the ice masses, previously hidden mountain ridges appear, leading to the splitting of glaciers into several parts. These newly formed smaller glaciers require new names. _x000D_
2) Glacial lakes can be formed due to the melting ice and need to be named. _x000D_
In the above cases, the study looks into the process of allocating new names as well as which institutions are involved in this process and which criteria are applied. _x000D_
3) Finally, when glaciers no longer exist, this can lead to the complete disappearance of their names from topographic maps._x000D_
The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate how climate change can have an impact on the toponomastics of the Austrian Alps._x000D_

Regina Falkensteiner
Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying / Austria

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ID Abstract: 652