At the start of 2021, we moved into a new 30-year climate normal period — 1991 to 2020. This brings a new reference period and new reference values for climate-related analyses and comparisons. The Austrian Klimastatusbericht 2020 takes a closer look at the new climate normal period and compares it with the previous one (1961 to 1990). How has the climate changed on average over the last 30 years? Which climate indices show the most striking changes, and what consequences do these have for us and our environment? The report shows that even seemingly small changes in mean temperature conditions can be associated with massive impacts on our environment and society. Alongside a brief overview of these impacts, the report takes a closer look at two processes: changes in soil water balance and changes in snow conditions.
The report also revisits adaptation to climate change. Federal and regional adaptation strategies are often contrasted with spontaneous, privately undertaken adaptation measures. Chapter 3 of the report illustrates that these aren't always sensible from a long-term or societal perspective. At the same time, numerous references to further information and current research projects on climate change provide useful pointers for successful adaptation.
The climate review has also been prepared for all nine federal provinces:
Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna
"In the Klimastatusbericht [and Klimarückblick] reports for 2019 and 2020, the climate index for cooling degree days was originally calculated using an incorrect definition, which led to a systematic underestimation of index values compared to commonly used definitions. The climate index was therefore redefined in February 2022, and the reports were updated with the new index values."
