L’attuale tendenza evolutiva dei gbiacciai delle Alpi italiane

The present trend of the glaciers of the Italian Alps

Abstract

The slight advance phase of the glaciers in the Italian Alps, which took place from 1925 onwards, practically coinciding with the beginning of regular snout surveys by the Italian Glaciological Committee, was followed by a long phase of retreat, which lasted without interruption until the end of the 1950s. Glacier activity then gradually began again and has recently become marked. The various stages of this new tendency on the part of Italian glaciers are examined through the results of the annual glacier surveys, from the first manifestations seen mainly in the Mont Blanc and Ortles-Cevedale massifs, to widespread progression in various parts of the Alpine chain. However, the phenomenon is not generalized since, although the overall tendency may be considered prevalent, there are remarkable differences in behavior, not only on a regional scale, but even between one glacier and another. Delays in the tendency towards advance sometimes alternate with uninterrupted and persisting retreat. The behavior of some glaciers, on which until now the present climatic context has had some peculiar effects, is analyzed and discussed with significant examples from the Central Alps, in the light of research results on glacier regime conducted on selected basins.