Journal of Maps (Jul 2019)

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

  • Stefania Lucchesi,
  • Stefania Bertotto,
  • Marta Chiarle,
  • Gianfranco Fioraso,
  • Marco Giardino,
  • Guido Nigrelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2018.1564382
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 2
pp. 142 – 152

Abstract

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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.

Keywords