Recent fluctuations of glaciers in Valtellina (Italian Alps) and climatic variations

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Pelfini, Manuela, Smiraglia, Claudio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1992
• Subjects: Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000003725; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000003725

Abstract Valtellina, located in the Italian Alps of Lombardy, is extensively glaciated. Since 1925, terminal variations of the glaciers have been recorded. By analysing a significant sample of valley glaciers, we have recognized a rapid retreat of the termini which occurred between 1925 and the early 1970s. A period of advance followed, which stopped in the second half of the 1980s. The mean summer-temperature fluctuations at the meteorological station of Sondrio at the centre of Valtellina, show that the period 1925–52 was very warm, and then the temperatures dropped. The most intense winter precipitation occurred in the period 1925–37. The behaviour of these glaciers is similar to that of other Alpine glaciers, although time of response may be different.