Recent variations of a debris-covered glacier (Brenva glacier) in the Italian Alps monitored by comparison of maps and digital orthophotos

Debris-covered glaciers are widespread in the mountain chains of Asia. They are also particularly common in New Zealand , in the Andes and in Alaska. Despite their relatively common occurrence, debris-covered glaciers have not been well studied. A debris cover that partially or completely masks the glacier ablation zone significantly influences the surface energy flux, the ablation rate and the discharge of meltwater streams. A multi-temporal analysis based on photogrammetry methodologies was used to assess changes volume and ablation rates

Recent (1975-2003) changes in the Miage debris covere glacier tongue (Mont Blanc, Italy) from analysis of aerial photos and maps

The present study aims at identifying any changes in volume and thickness of the Miage Glacier tongue (Mont Blanc Massif, Italy) during the period 1975-2003. The Miage glacier developed the largest part of its debris cover over the last century, now found mostly between the glacier terminus (about 1850 m a.s.l.) and the upper ablation tongue (c. 2400 m a.s.l.) on a surface area of c. 4 km 2 The period examined (1975-2003) addresses climate conditions which were glacier-favourable (around the . 1980s), as well as glacier-unfavourable (since the early to mid-1990s), thus contributing to an understanding of the behaviour of debris covered glaciers under a changing climate. The analysis was based on the comparison between digital elevation models (DEMs), derived from historical records, specifically maps (1975; scale 1:10,000) and photogrammetric surveys (1991 and 2003, scale 1:15,000). The results show a general glacier volume loss (\u201316.640 x 10 6 m 3 ( from 1975 to 2003; nevertheless if we focus on the two time sub-windows (i.e.: 1975-1991 and 1991-2003) opposite trends are found: in the period 1975-1991 the volume variation of the Miage Glacier was about +19.25 710 6 m 3 , in the period 1991-2003, on the other hand, a volume decrease of about \u201336.2 710 6 m 3 occurred. Analysis shows that volume changes were strongly influenced by the supraglacial debris coverage which on Miage glacier tongue modulates the magnitude and rates of buried ice ablation

Abstracts of the Giornate di Coniglicoltura ASIC 2007

(2008). Abstracts of the Giornate di Coniglicoltura ASIC 2007. World Rabbit Science. 16(2). doi:10.4995/wrs.2008.634SWORD16

Mathematical Model of the Impact of a Nonantibiotic Treatment for Clostridium difficile on the Endemic Prevalence of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in a Hospital Setting

Introduction. Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is treated using antibiotics, which often leads to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). This study estimated the impact of a non antibiotic treatment for CDAD on VRE prevalence. Methods. A previously published model describing the impact of in-hospital antibiotic use on VRE prevalence was adapted to include CDAD treatment. Simulations compared the prevalence of VRE when nonantibiotic versus antibiotic therapy was used. Results. Nonantibiotic treatment in 50% of CDAD patients resulted in an 18% relative reduction in the prevalence of VRE colonization compared with antibiotic use only. Sensitivity analysis found the model to be most sensitive to rates of antibiotic initiation and discontinuation, prevalence of VRE in admitted patients, length of stay of colonized patients, probability of CDAD acquisition, and hand-washing compliance. Conclusion. Nonantibiotic treatment of patients hospitalized with CDAD may significantly reduce the incidence of VRE colonization

Prediction of future hydrological regimes in poorly gauged high altitude basins: the case study of the upper Indus, Pakistan

In the mountain regions of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya (HKH) the "third polar ice cap" of our planet, glaciers play the role of "water towers" by providing significant amount of melt water, especially in the dry season, essential for agriculture, drinking purposes, and hydropower production. Recently, most glaciers in the HKH have been retreating and losing mass, mainly due to significant regional warming, thus calling for assessment of future water resources availability for populations down slope. However, hydrology of these high altitude catchments is poorly studied and little understood. Most such catchments are poorly gauged, thus posing major issues in flow prediction therein, and representing in fact typical grounds of application of PUB concepts, where simple and portable hydrological modeling based upon scarce data amount is necessary for water budget estimation, and prediction under climate change conditions. In this preliminarily study, future (2060) hydrological flows in a particular watershed (Shigar river at Shigar, ca. 7000 km<sup>2</sup>), nested within the upper Indus basin and fed by seasonal melt from major glaciers, are investigated. <br><br> The study is carried out under the umbrella of the SHARE-Paprika project, aiming at evaluating the impact of climate change upon hydrology of the upper Indus river. We set up a minimal hydrological model, tuned against a short series of observed ground climatic data from a number of stations in the area, in situ measured ice ablation data, and remotely sensed snow cover data. The future, locally adjusted, precipitation and temperature fields for the reference decade 2050–2059 from <i>CCSM3</i> model, available within the IPCC's panel, are then fed to the hydrological model. We adopt four different glaciers' cover scenarios, to test sensitivity to decreased glacierized areas. The projected flow duration curves, and some selected flow descriptors are evaluated. The uncertainty of the results is then addressed, and use of the model for nearby catchments discussed. The proposed approach is valuable as a tool to investigate the hydrology of poorly gauged high altitude areas, and to project forward their hydrological behavior pending climate change

2008-2011 snow covered area (SCA) variability over 18 watersheds of the central Chile through MODIS data

Snowmelt contributes largely to water budget of several Chilean mountain watersheds. To describe snow covered area (SCA) variability within 18 watersheds in Central Chile during 2008\u20132011 we used MODIS data (i.e. MOD10A2-V5 maximum snow cover extent in eight-day periods). The study area was divided into three different zones (Northern, Central, and Southern), due to its large extent (~205,000 km2), and according to former studies performed by the Direcc\uedon General de Aguas (DGA) of the Chilean Government covering the time window 2000\u20132007. After georeferencing our data to the WGS84 Datum (UTM Projection, zone 19S), the scenes were cropped to fit the study area. We selected and set a threshold for cloud coverage (<30%) in order to discard the images with too cloud cover, so losing only 2% of the sample. Hypsographic and aspect analyses were performed using the SRTM3 elevation model. We found largest values of SCA during 2008\u20132011 in the Central Zone, while the topographic and climatic features (i.e. lower altitudes in the South, and a drier climate in the North) limit snow deposition elsewhere. Similarly, snow line is higher in the Northern zone (due to the presence of the plateau), and lower moving southwards. In the North the minimum SCA is reached sooner than elsewhere, lasting for a longer period (November to March). West side showed the maximum of SCA in all zones throughout the study period. The present work extends in time the dataset of SCA in the Central Chile, adding information for statistic assessment, and trend analysis of snow cover in this area