**5. Inter-annual size variations of small glaciers on the Balkan Peninsula**

Precise data about size in autumn (at the end of the balance year) have been gathered for Snezhnika glacieret in Pirin for 24 different years, the 21 of which have been consecutive (1996–2016). The area of Banski suhodol glacieret was measured once (in 2009), but its size fluctuations since then are registered by repetitive photographs, and since 2011 the front advances/retreats in relation to fixed points have been recorded. Data for the surface area of Debeli namet are available for the years 1954, 1971, 1981, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2005–2016 [3, 14, 18]. On the basis of documents, photographs and measurements information about the size of glaciers and snow patches in Popluk area of Prokletije have been gathered for the years 2006, 2007 and 2011–2016 [3, 12, 15]; for Kolata glacieret: for 2012 and 2014; for glaciers in Hekurave range: for 2006, 2011–2014 [3] and 2015; and for the snow patches in Kotao cirque: for 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016 [3, 40].

In general, in short-term small glaciers on the Balkans, size variation of high amplitudes has been demonstrated but differences have been observed in overall amplitude, the way of expansion/shrinkage and the expression of changes. For the whole region, 2005/2006 balance year was a year of glacier growth. For the period of continuous observation in the three mountains, 2010–2014 episode was characterized by synchronous behaviour of all glaciers and snow patches on the Balkans: shrinkage in 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 and expansion in 2012/2013 balance years. In the next years, different trends were observed in the Eastern and the Western Balkans: for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 glacierets in Pirin have been stagnating (Snezhnika had even little growth in 2015), while features in Prokletije [41] and Durmitor have been strongly diminished (**Figure 10**).

For this last period, glacierets in Pirin reached their absolute minimum after 2011/2012 balance year, and the size for the years 2014–2016 was similar and at the same time much bigger. In 2015, Debeli namet glacier in Durmitor was smaller, and in 2016, it was much smaller than it was in 2012. In Popluk (Prokletije), 2012 was the minimum for the lowermost snow patches: Koljaet snow patch disappeared almost completely, then reappeared in the next year with a size comparable to that of 2007 when the Serbian scientists had visited it. Shrinkage started again in 2014, continued in 2015 and in 2016, size was again smaller but still a little larger than in 2012. In contrast, for the higher located glaciers in the area, 2015/2016 was the year of the absolute minimum with sizes definitely smaller than those for 2011/2012. For this later period, the maximum size in all the Balkans was registered in 2012/2013 balance year. In Prokletije areas, sizes were larger than those in 2005/2006, Debeli namet glacier was of same size in both the years, and Snezhnika was larger in 2006 than in 2013.

Data for a longer term, available for Snezhnika and Debeli namet, show no trend towards shrink or growth. They both reached absolute minimums in the 1990s of the last century. After 2002–2003, they stabilized and grew, but since 2010, controversial trends have been observed (**Figure 11**).

**5. Inter-annual size variations of small glaciers on the Balkan Peninsula**

for 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016 [3, 40].

94 Glacier Evolution in a Changing World

have been strongly diminished (**Figure 10**).

larger in 2006 than in 2013.

observed (**Figure 11**).

Precise data about size in autumn (at the end of the balance year) have been gathered for Snezhnika glacieret in Pirin for 24 different years, the 21 of which have been consecutive (1996–2016). The area of Banski suhodol glacieret was measured once (in 2009), but its size fluctuations since then are registered by repetitive photographs, and since 2011 the front advances/retreats in relation to fixed points have been recorded. Data for the surface area of Debeli namet are available for the years 1954, 1971, 1981, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2005–2016 [3, 14, 18]. On the basis of documents, photographs and measurements information about the size of glaciers and snow patches in Popluk area of Prokletije have been gathered for the years 2006, 2007 and 2011–2016 [3, 12, 15]; for Kolata glacieret: for 2012 and 2014; for glaciers in Hekurave range: for 2006, 2011–2014 [3] and 2015; and for the snow patches in Kotao cirque:

In general, in short-term small glaciers on the Balkans, size variation of high amplitudes has been demonstrated but differences have been observed in overall amplitude, the way of expansion/shrinkage and the expression of changes. For the whole region, 2005/2006 balance year was a year of glacier growth. For the period of continuous observation in the three mountains, 2010–2014 episode was characterized by synchronous behaviour of all glaciers and snow patches on the Balkans: shrinkage in 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 and expansion in 2012/2013 balance years. In the next years, different trends were observed in the Eastern and the Western Balkans: for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 glacierets in Pirin have been stagnating (Snezhnika had even little growth in 2015), while features in Prokletije [41] and Durmitor

For this last period, glacierets in Pirin reached their absolute minimum after 2011/2012 balance year, and the size for the years 2014–2016 was similar and at the same time much bigger. In 2015, Debeli namet glacier in Durmitor was smaller, and in 2016, it was much smaller than it was in 2012. In Popluk (Prokletije), 2012 was the minimum for the lowermost snow patches: Koljaet snow patch disappeared almost completely, then reappeared in the next year with a size comparable to that of 2007 when the Serbian scientists had visited it. Shrinkage started again in 2014, continued in 2015 and in 2016, size was again smaller but still a little larger than in 2012. In contrast, for the higher located glaciers in the area, 2015/2016 was the year of the absolute minimum with sizes definitely smaller than those for 2011/2012. For this later period, the maximum size in all the Balkans was registered in 2012/2013 balance year. In Prokletije areas, sizes were larger than those in 2005/2006, Debeli namet glacier was of same size in both the years, and Snezhnika was

Data for a longer term, available for Snezhnika and Debeli namet, show no trend towards shrink or growth. They both reached absolute minimums in the 1990s of the last century. After 2002–2003, they stabilized and grew, but since 2010, controversial trends have been

**Figure 10.** Inter-annual changes of Snezhnika glacieret (Pirin), Koljaet snow patch (Prokletije) and Debeli namet glacier (Durmitor) for the period 2011–2016.

**Figure 11.** Area measurements for Snezhnika glacieret (Pirin) and Debeli namet glacier (Durmitor).
