气候变化领域集成服务门户(CCPortal): Post-LIA glacier changes along a latitudinal transect in the Central Italian Alps

CCPortal

DOI	10.5194/tc-8-2235-2014
	Post-LIA glacier changes along a latitudinal transect in the Central Italian Alps
	Scotti R.; Brardinoni F.; Crosta G.B.
发表日期	2014
ISSN	19940416
卷号	8 期号:6
英文摘要	The variability of glacier response to atmospheric temperature rise in different topo-climatic settings is still a matter of debate. To address this question in the Central Italian Alps, we compile a post-LIA (Little Ice Age) multitemporal glacier inventory (1860-1954-1990-2003-2007) along a latitudinal transect that originates north of the continental divide in the Livigno Mountains and extends south through the Disgrazia and Orobie ranges, encompassing continental-to-maritime climatic settings. In these sub-regions, we examine the area change of 111 glaciers. Overall, the total glacierized area has declined from 34.1 to 10.1 km2, with a substantial increase in the number of small glaciers due to fragmentation. The average annual decrease (AAD) in glacier area has risen by about 1 order of magnitude from 1860-1990 (Livigno: 0.45; Orobie: 0.42; and Disgrazia: 0.39%a-1) to 1990-2007 (Livigno: 3.08; Orobie: 2.44; and Disgrazia: 2.27%a-1). This ranking changes when considering glaciers smaller than 0.5 km2 only (i.e., we remove the confounding caused by large glaciers in Disgrazia), so that post-1990 AAD follows the latitudinal gradient and Orobie glaciers stand out (Livigno: 4.07; Disgrazia: 3.57; and Orobie: 2.47%a-1). More recent (2007-2013) field-based mass balances in three selected small glaciers confirm post-1990 trends showing the consistently highest retreat in continental Livigno and minimal area loss in maritime Orobie, with Disgrazia displaying transitional behavior. We argue that the recent resilience of glaciers in Orobie is a consequence of their decoupling from synoptic atmospheric temperature trends, a decoupling that arises from the combination of local topographic configuration (i.e., deep, northfacing cirques) and high winter precipitation, which ensures high snow-avalanche supply, as well as high summer shading and sheltering. Our hypothesis is further supported by the lack of correlations between glacier change and glacier attributes in Orobie, as well as by the higher variability in ELA0 positioning, post-LIA glacier change, and interannual mass balances, as we move southward along the transect. © Author(s) 2014.
学科领域	climate effect; glacial environment; ice retreat; latitudinal gradient; Little Ice Age; mass balance; precipitation (climatology); Alps; Italy
语种	英语
scopus关键词	climate effect; glacial environment; ice retreat; latitudinal gradient; Little Ice Age; mass balance; precipitation (climatology); Alps; Italy
来源期刊	Cryosphere
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://gcip.llas.ac.cn/handle/2XKMVOVA/120003
作者单位	Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, Milan, 20126, Italy
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Scotti R.,Brardinoni F.,Crosta G.B.. Post-LIA glacier changes along a latitudinal transect in the Central Italian Alps[J],2014,8(6).
APA	Scotti R.,Brardinoni F.,&Crosta G.B..(2014).Post-LIA glacier changes along a latitudinal transect in the Central Italian Alps.Cryosphere,8(6).
MLA	Scotti R.,et al."Post-LIA glacier changes along a latitudinal transect in the Central Italian Alps".Cryosphere 8.6(2014).