Glacier shrinkage in the Ortles-Cevedale group between 1954 and 2015
Carlo D'Agata, University of Milano (IT)
Glaciers are an important feature of the hydrological cycle, affecting the availability of water for civil and hydropower use. In Stelvio National Park, they are particularly important for hydropower plants and constitute notable touristic sites. In this study, we mapped glacier outlines using high resolution aerial orthophotos from 1954, 1981, 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2015. We further investigated the progressive retreat of glaciers in the park, which mirrors the current phase of retreat both worldwide and in Italy, and its acceleration in the last decades due to the ongoing warming climate signal.