SNOW PRECIPITATION IN THE LAST YEARS ON ITALIAN ALPS

Recent papers showed a general decrease of winter precipitation in the last years on Italian Alps and particularly snowy precipitations, both in the Western Italian Alps and in the Eastern part. In the Dolomites snowfall decreased of 28% during the period 1988-2003, comparing with average precipitations in 30 years (1971-2000). In this paper it is carried out an analysis of seasonal snowfall in the Dolomites and first results of a regional climatic evolution using the adimensional index SAT (Standardized Anomaly Index) Tor 40 nivological stations on the Alps. Furthermore decreasing snow precipitations corresponds to a strong reduction of Dolomites\u27 glaciers (-24% of the surface during the period 1980-2000)

SNOW PRECIPITATION IN THE LAST YEARS ON ITALIAN ALPS

Recent papers showed a general decrease of winter precipitation in the last years on Italian Alps and particularly snowy precipitations, both in the Western Italian Alps and in the Eastern part. In the Dolomites snowfall decreased of 28% during the period 1988-2003, comparing with average precipitations in 30 years (1971-2000). In this paper it is carried out an analysis of seasonal snowfall in the Dolomites and first results of a regional climatic evolution using the adimensional index SAT (Standardized Anomaly Index) Tor 40 nivological stations on the Alps. Furthermore decreasing snow precipitations corresponds to a strong reduction of Dolomites\u27 glaciers (-24% of the surface during the period 1980-2000)

Radiometric investigation of different snow covers in Svalbard

This paper examines the relationship between reflectance and physical characteristics of the snow cover in the Arctic. Field data were acquired for different snow and ice surfaces during a survey carried out at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, in spring 1998. In each measurement reflectance in the spectral range 350 - 2500 nm, snow data (including temperature, grain size and shape, density and water content), surface layer morphology, and vertical profile of the snow pack were recorded detailed analysis of reflectance based on the physical was performed. Field reflectance data were also re-sampled at the spectral intervals of Landsat TM to compare the ability of identifying different snow targets at discrete wavelength intervals. This analysis shows that reliable data on snow structure and thickness are necessary to understand albedo changes of the snow surfaces

Recent evolution of Marmolada glacier (Dolomites, Italy) by means of ground and airborne GPR surveys

A 10-year-long evolution of ice thickness and volume of the Marmolada glacier is presented. Quantitative measurements have been performed by using two different Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) datasets. A ground-based survey using two different ground-coupled systems equipped with 100 MHz and 35 MHz antennas was performed in 2004. In 2015 the dataset was collected by using a helicopter-borne step frequency GPR equipped with a 100 MHz antenna. Through a critical discussion of the two different methodologies, we show how both approaches are useful to estimate the ice volume within a glacier, as well as its morphological characteristics and changes with time, even if datasets are acquired in different periods of the year. The observed 2004–2014 ice volume reduction of the Marmolada glacier is equal to about 30%, while the area covered by ice decreased by about 22%. The glacier is now splitted in several separated units. It is very likely that the fragmentation of the Marmolada glacier observed in the period 2004–2014 was accelerated due to irregular karst topography. By applying the observed 2004–2014 ice-melting trend for the future although the Marmolada glacier might behave slightly differently compared to glaciers on non-karstic terrains owing to dominant vertical subglacial drainage, it will likely disappear by the year 2050. Only few isolated very small and thin ice patches will eventually survive due to avalanche feeding and shading at the foot of the north-facing cliffs

Study of the snow melt–freeze cycle using multi-sensor data and snow modelling

The melt cycle of snow is investigated by combining ground-based microwave radiometric measurements with conventional and meteorological data and by using a hydrological snow model. Measurements at 2000 m a.s.l in the basin of the Cordevole river in the eastern Italian Alps confirm the high sensitivity of microwave emission at 19 and 37 GHz to the snow melt–freeze cycle, while the brightness at 6.8 GHz is mostly related to underlying soil. Simulations of snowpack changes performed by means of hydrological and electromagnetic models, driven with meteorological and snow data, provide additional insight into these processes and contribute to the interpretation of the experimental data

Il bollettino nivometeorologico nelle Dolomiti e Prealpi Venete. Guida per una corretta interpretazione

SIGLEITItal