Very small glaciers (area <0.1 km2) have received increased scientific attention during recent years, both for their rapid responses to the climate forcing and because they are characterized by microclimatic conditions, often marginal to glacier formation. They are particularly sensitive to climate changes and characterized by a great mass turnover, particularly evident in maritime areas with high precipitation. Here we consider the evolution from 1920 of the ‘Canin Eastern Glacier’ (Italian Southeastern Alps) in order to correlate its evolution to the precipitation–temperature trends. We reconstructed a precipitation–temperature record at the altitude of the glacier, filling a lack of knowledge in this alpine sector. We observed a decrease in the mean annual precipitation of 10% in 90 years and a warming trend of 0.1°C decade−1 since 1851, and of 0.7°C decade−1 in the last 20 years. An inverse correlation between precipitation and mean air temperature during summer and ablation periods was also observed. Glacier dynamics revealed a phase of stability between 1945 and 1985 that seems to be a peculiar characteristic of this area. Moreover, through a general regression model the glacial terminus variations seem to be statistically influenced only by winter precipitation. This fact opens interesting perspectives for the possible future evolution of this small glacier and, more in general, to other small glaciers in maritime areas in regard to climate change scenarios.

Precipitation–temperature changes and evolution of a small glacier in the southeastern European Alps during the last 90 years

. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Bedeutung der Erwarmung der Kryosphare seit dem Ende der Kleinen Eiszeit (LIA) fur die raumliche Verbreitung von Muranrissen in einem zentralalpinen Gebiet der Ostalpen untersucht. Vor dem Hintergrund der atmospharischen Erwarmung verursachte hier insbesondere die Degradation von Permafrost bodenmechanische Instabilitaten. Im Untersuchungsgebiet, dem Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn in Sudtirol lasst sich zeigen, dass mehr als die Halfte der Muranrisse in Lockergesteinen auftreten, unter anderem in Moranen- und Hangschuttablagerungen, die vor rund 150 Jahren noch durch Gletschereis und Permafrost stabilisiert waren.

/pdf/impact-of-atmospheric-warming-on-permafrost-degradation-and-454jtitiwz.pdf

Impact of atmospheric warming on permafrost degradation and debris flow initiation: A case study from the eastern European Alps

We propose an integrated methodology to image the internal structure, evaluate the volume and estimate the densities of different units within ice bodies, useful for more precise mass estimation of very small glaciers The procedure encompasses light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) common offset data The case study is the Canin Eastern Glacieret (CEG), a very small and maritime glacier in the Eastern Alps, and one of the lowermost glaciers of the European Alps We calculate both volumetric and mass variations of the analysed ice body by integrating GPR measurements with LiDAR surveys acquired in different years (2006 and 2011) Between 2006 and 2011, the area of the glacieret increased from 8,510 to 17,530 m2 with a gain of 9,016 m2 The observed volume increase has been estimated in 96,350 m3 (+97 %), which corresponds to a positive mass balance of 389 m we This quite unusual finding in the present global warming behaviour is mainly due to the above-average winter accumulation (cw) in the considered period Moreover, the winter season 2008–2009 represented an exceptional event with a cw equal to 1338 m, the highest of the available record Thanks to density estimation, we infer the total mass of the CEG at the time of the geophysical surveys, comparing such results with the ones obtained with available empirical equations, observing an important mass gain in the 5 years considered

Evaluation of Internal Structure, Volume and Mass of Glacial Bodies by Integrated LiDAR and Ground Penetrating Radar Surveys: The Case Study of Canin Eastern Glacieret (Julian Alps, Italy)

. This work presents an analysis of the mass balance series of nine Italian glaciers, which were selected based on the length, continuity and reliability of observations. All glaciers experienced mass loss in the observation period, which is variable for the different glaciers and ranges between 10 and 47 years. The longest series display increasing mass loss rates, which were mainly due to increased ablation during longer and warmer ablation seasons. The mean annual mass balance (Ba) in the decade from 2004 to 2013 ranged from −1788 to −763 mm w.e. yr−1. Low-altitude glaciers with low range of elevation are more out of balance than the higher, larger and steeper glaciers, which maintain residual accumulation areas in their upper reaches. The response of glaciers is mainly controlled by the combination of October–May precipitations and June–September temperatures, but rapid geometric adjustments and atmospheric changes lead to modifications in their response to climatic variations. In particular, a decreasing correlation of Ba with the June–September temperatures and an increasing correlation with October–May precipitations are observed for some glaciers. In addition, the October–May temperatures tend to become significantly correlated with Ba, possibly indicating a decrease in the fraction of solid precipitation, and/or increased ablation, during the accumulation season. Because most of the monitored glaciers have no more accumulation area, their observations series are at risk due to their impending extinction, thus requiring a replacement soon.

/pdf/analysis-of-the-mass-balance-time-series-of-glaciers-in-the-25s95ed7wj.pdf

Analysis of the mass balance time series of glaciers in the Italian Alps

The temperature rise at the global level and glacier shrinkage are deemed to induce new dynamics between biotic and abiotic factors, especially in mountain regions. In this work, we aimed to assess: (a) the area made available after glacier retreat since the Little Ice Age (LIA) for the colonization of alpine plants; (b) the ability of 14 alpine and nival species, typically growing on peaks and in deglaciated areas, to migrate and survive at lower elevations in microrefugia across the treeline ecotone. In the Adamello-Presanella Massif (Rhaetian Alps), we collected presence data on 14 alpine species within 3 × 3 or 5 × 5 m plots according to slope landforms and deposits. The analysis of the elevation range of the investigated species across the treeline was performed using Sentinel-2 satellite images to derive the actual position of the upper and lower treeline. The differences in the species elevation ranges across slope landforms, in relation to the treeline elevation and aspect, were detected with linear mixed models. Results showed that glaciers contracted sharply by more than 50% between the LIA and 2006, making large deglaciated areas available (more than 57 km2). All the studied species were found at low altitudes across the treeline ecotone, from about 500 to 1200 m below their typical habitat. Six species (Cardamine resedifolia, Cerastium uniflorum, Leucanthemopsis alpina, Luzula alpinopilosa, Oxyria digyna, Saxifraga oppositifolia) significantly exceeded the upper treeline in correspondence of alpine composite channels (p  The retreat of the alpine glaciers, coupled with the intensification of paraglacial processes, may favor new habitat opportunities at high elevation and microrefugia at low altitudes for nival and alpine species. The widespread presence of microrefugia for alpine plants downslope during warm periods suggests a low incidence of biodiversity loss in the alpine regions due to climate change.

Glacier shrinkage and slope processes create habitat at high elevation and microrefugia across treeline for alpine plants during warm stages

Relazioni della campagna glaciologica 2002. Reports of the glaciological survey 2002.

Relazioni della campagna glaciologica 2003. Reports of the glaciological survey 2003.

Relazioni della campagna glaciologica 2005

Relazioni della campagna glaciologica 1997. Reports of the glaciological survey 1997.

Relazioni della campagna glaciologica 2004. Reports of the glaciological survey 2004.

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