Background

The Alpine environment, and in particular the high-altitude one, is responding quickly and with great intensity to climate change, through evidences of geomorphological, hydrological and ecological type. Mountain glacier shrinkage and related outcropping of rock walls and debris, changes of the precipitation and temperature patterns, are some of the main terrestrial indicators of climatic change.

Purpose

Use the Bessanese glacial basin as an open air experimental laboratory. Study the variability of the thermal conditions of different materials (air, rock, debris, soil, ice, water) that are involved in morphodynamic processes. This information will be used to deepen the knowledge on the relationship between climate change and natural instability processes that occur at high-elevation sites.

Methods

Application of the metrological traceability of measurements and application of dedicated calibration procedures. Measuring temperature by means of sensors and acquisition chains with known uncertainty of measurements. Thanks to this approach it is possible to identify with a high level of accuracy temperature variability and trends for different bodies.

Results

1. Advances in measurement of temperature at high-elevation sites by means of innovative, low cost solutions with low environmental impact;
2. Measuring temperature at high-elevation sites by means of sensors and acquisition chains with known uncertainty of measurements;
3. Identify temperature variability and trends for different bodies, in order to better understand the impacts of climate change on geomorphological dynamics and natural hazards related to cryosphere (including permafrost) degradation.

Products

1. Temperature data at high–elevation site, for different materials (air, rock, debris, soil, ice, water);
2. High-resolution images by means of innovative Livecam 360° PANOMAX, of the Bessanese glacial basin;
3. Dissemination results (publications, videos, meetings).