Studio del Ghiacciaio dell'Adamello mediante indagini georadar

Ground Penetrating Radar investigations on the Adamello Glacier

Abstract

The results of the investigations carried out in 1997-98 in the Adamello Glacier area are discussed in this paper. Aim of the study was mapping the glacier surface and bedrock in order to better understand the dynamics and calculate the volume of the glacier. Aerial photogrammetry and GPS-assisted ground penetrating radar surveys both from the surface and by helicopter were carried out. Data were processed in ARC/INFO environment. The overall volume of the glacier reaches the value of about 870 million cubic meters, with a maximum ice thickness higher than 210 m in the Pian di Neve area. A good fit with the results of the previous surveys, carried out in the upper part of the glacier from the beginning of the 60s, can be observed, confirming that the Adamello glacier can be considered the largest alpine glacier.