Aspetti del clima del bacino del Gesso (Alpi Marittime), in relazione alla presenza di alcuni piccoli ghiacciai

Aspects of the Gesso Basin climate (Maritime Alps) concerning the presence of some small g1aciers

Abstract

The principal elements of the climate of the Gesso Valley, such as temperature, rainfall and snowfall have been studied. Thanks to the linear regression method, monthly and yearly temperature gradients have been calculated; in particular the yearly one results to be 0.45 °C/100 m. Besides, through the altimetric gradient the montly and yearly altitude of 0 °C was calculated. In this last decade, the temperature trend has shown a sensible fall, especially in Spring and in Summer. As far as rainfall is concerned, a negative trend was also revealed for all seasons. In particular, at the Chiotas station the yearly decrease is considerable and may be measured at 23 mm/year. The same trend was noticed in snowfall where, at higher stations, such as the Piastra and Chiotas dams, it reaches 13 and 23 mm/year respectively. The studied thermic and snow trends clash as far as the glacier dynamics are concerned; in recent years, however, the Gesso Valley glacier have suffered a heavy contraction, owing to the drop in snowfall.