1. The Triglav Glacier (South-Eastern Alps, Slovenia): Volume Estimation, Internal Characterization and 2000–2013 Temporal Evolution by Means of Ground Penetrating Radar Measurements
- Author
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Matija Zorn, Costanza Del Gobbo, Emanuele Forte, Renato R. Colucci, Michaela Triglav Čekada, DEL GOBBO, Costanza, Colucci, Renato R., Forte, Emanuele, Triglav Čekada, Michaela, and Zorn, Matija
- Subjects
3D GPR ,4D analysis ,ice melting ,Slovenia ,South-eastern Alps ,time monitoring, climate changes ,Triglav glacier ,Geophysics ,time monitoring, climate change ,climate changes ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,4D analysi ,Climate change ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,01 natural sciences ,Glacier mass balance ,Geochemistry and Petrology ,Glacial period ,Geophysic ,Geomorphology ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Firn ,Glacier ,Snow ,Glacier morphology ,South-eastern Alp ,Ground-penetrating radar ,Physical geography ,time monitoring ,Geology - Abstract
It is well known that small glaciers of mid latitudes and especially those located at low altitude respond suddenly to climate changes both on local and global scale. For this reason their monitoring as well as evaluation of their extension and volume is essential. We present a ground penetrating radar (GPR) dataset acquired on September 23 and 24, 2013 on the Triglav glacier to identify layers with different characteristics (snow, firn, ice, debris) within the glacier and to define the extension and volume of the actual ice. Computing integrated and interpolated 3D using the whole GPR dataset, we estimate that at the moment of data acquisition the ice area was 3800 m2 and the ice volume 7400 m3. Its average thickness was 1.95 m while its maximum thickness was slightly more than 5 m. Here we compare the results with a previous GPR survey acquired in 2000. A critical review of the historical data to find the general trend and to forecast a possible evolution is also presented. Between 2000 and 2013, we observed relevant changes in the internal distribution of the different units (snow, firn, ice) and the ice volume reduced from about 35,000 m3 to about 7400 m3. Such result can be achieved only using multiple GPR surveys, which allow not only to assess the volume occupied by a glacial body, but also to image its internal structure and the actual ice volume. In fact, by applying one of the widely used empirical volume-area relations to infer the geometrical parameters of the glacier, a relevant underestimation of ice-loss would be achieved.
- Published
- 2016
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