Ghiacciaio del Calderone (Apennines, Italy): the mass balance of a shrinking Mediterranean glacier

Abstract

The Ghiacciaio del Calderone, the southernmost glacier in Europe, is located almost in the exact centre of the Italian peninsula. The glacier, which has been split into two ice aprons since the end of the Summer of 2000 and now could be better defined as a «glacieret» (or better as two «glacierets»), shows clear evidence of strong shrinkage, characterised by a rapid reduction in surface, volume and thickness. Twelve years (1995 - 2006) of mass balance data are presented here and discussed. During this period, there has been a total loss of about 4 m w.e. (with a maximum negative specific net balance of –1847 mm w.e. in 2002). Relationships with the climate trend are presented and discussed. The significant correlation between mass balances and winter precipitation made it possible to reconstruct balances for the 1920-1994 period. The balances proved to be almost constantly negative, with a total loss of about 60 m w.e.