L’espansione dei ghiacciai italiani del Monte Bianco tra il 1962 e il 1989

The advance of Italian glaciers of Mont Blanc between 1962 and 1989

Abstract

The recent glacier advance shown in the whole of the Alps, was particularity marked and continued in the Mont Blanc region, the reason probably due to the great mean altitude of the accumulation areas (up than 4000 m asl) and the favourable exposure to moist Atlantic winds. The climatic behaviour between 1950 and 1980, showing heavy snowfalls and a gentle temperature decline, produced high accumulation and positive mass balance. Fluctuations of some glaciers located in the Italian slope of Mont Blanc are examined in comparison with temperature and precipitation trends of the period 1936-1991, as revealed by meteorological data of the weather stations of Courmayeur (1250 m) and of the italian entrance of the Mt. Blanc Tunnel (1381 m). A glacier favourable climatic period took place between 1951 and 1990, while glacier advance began in 1955-1962 and went on till 1989-1991. ‘The terminus advance of Lex Blanche Glacier was of 740 m; Brenva Glacier volume increase was estimated 57*10⁶m³.