Giant ice caves have appeared in glaciers in Austria accelerating the melting process faster than expected as warmer air rushes through the ice mass until it collapses.

Glaciologists Andrea Fischer and Martin Stocker-Waldhuber, from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, explore a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier near Galtuer, Austria, Oct. 15, 2021.

Glaciologists Fischer and Stocker-Waldhuber, from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, inspect the entrance of a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier, near Galtuer, Austria, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer stands at the entrance of a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier, near Galtuer, Austria, Oct. 15, 2021.

She hikes toward the entrance of a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier near Galtuer, Austria, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer explores a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer inspects a piece of ice inside a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier, Oct. 15, 2021.

Glaciologists inspect the entrance of a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier near Galtuer, Austria, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer and Stocker-Waldhuber inspect the entrance of a natural glacier cavity of Jamtalferner glacier, Oct. 15, 2021.

Glaciologist Martin Stocker-Waldhuber explores a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier near Galtuer, Oct. 15, 2021.

Stocker-Waldhuber explores a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier near Galtuer, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer and Stocker-Waldhuber explore a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer and Stocker-Waldhuber inspect the ceiling of a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier, Oct. 15, 2021.

Glaciologists explore a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier near Galtuer, Austria, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer enters a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier near Galtuer, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer and Stocker-Waldhuber hike toward the Jamtalferner glacier, Oct. 15, 2021.

Fischer and Stocker-Waldhuber inspect the ceiling of a natural glacier cavity of the Jamtalferner glacier, Oct. 15, 2021.