Little Ice Age glacial systems and related natural instability processes in the Orco Valley (North-Western Italy)

Abstract

Glaciated and recently (post-Little Ice Age) deglaciated areas are very dynamic environments, undergoing continuous changes, in particular as a consequence of climatic fluctuations and cryosphere changes. The intense geomorphic activity that takes place here conditions natural hazard, sediment transport and tourist fruition. A geo-morphological mapping with applicative purposes has to take into account the peculiarities and the dynamism of these specific areas. We here propose a methodological approach based on the interpretation of a multitemporal set of aerial photos (from 1983 to 2012), in a GIS environment, with application to the sectors modeled by Little Ice Age glaciers in the upper Orco Valley (NW Italy). The result is a geo-morphological map focused on the elements that are most relevant for application purposes, complemented by a map of the spatio-temporal distribution of the natural instability processes identified in the study area for the reference period, aimed to highlight the recent dynamism of the geomorphological elements in the map.

Socio-environmental value of glacier lakes: assessment in the Aosta Valley (Western Italian Alps)

“…165 Furthermore, every lake was classified according to the type of dam as: bedrock-dammed, moraine-166 dammed, and ice-dammed. The type of impounding was assigned by visual interpretation of aerial 167 orthophotos and/or high-resolution hillshade of the lake surroundings (Lucchesi et al 2019). Finally, 168 each lake was associated to the corresponding mountain sectors, with Italian names accordingly to 169 the Alpine supergroups of the International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps (ISMSA-170 SOUISA; Marazzi 2005).…”

Water Colour Changes in High-Elevation Alpine Lakes during 2017–2022: A Case Study of the Upper Orco Valley Catchment

“…Currently, only 18 glaciers remain, and the glaciated area has reduced to less than 30% of the LIA surface [24]. Gravitational and fluvial processes have partly modified the former glacial landscape, gaining importance as glaciers shrink and paraglacial processes develop, modifying the once glaciated environments [25,26].…”

Advances in Geoheritage Mapping: Application to Iconic Geomorphological Examples from the Italian Landscape

“…Another important constraint to geomorphological mapping is the application of targeted techniques to the research object during three stages of the investigation: (1) landform description, (2) measurement of geomorphic process rates and (3) model calibration for interpreting geomorphic scenarios [18]. The description of landforms has the value of providing general information on the spatial variability of processes [19]. If this can be combined with contemporary process rates [20], it will provide the basis for improved interpretations and predictions of geomorphological scenarios in different morphoclimatic and morphogenetic environments [21][22][23][24][25].…”