An investigation of water and ice chemistry in a fast-retreating glacier in the Dolomites (NE Italy) : the Fradusta glacier

Auteur :
DOSI, C.

Description :
Fradusta glacier (Pale di San Martino massif), the second largest icefield in Italian Dolomites, is evidencing a fast retreat, with a surface area reduction of about 90% in the last 100 years, and a negative variation of glacier front of 115.5 m between 1926 and 2000. Analytical chemical studies, conducted on the field with portable instrumentation for physicochemical parameters and in the analytical laboratory for main ion determination via IC, suggested the occurrence of strong chemical interactions between melting waters and the Dolomitic bedrock. The presence of ammonium ion in snow and ice samples is indicative of long-range global anthropogenic impact, which might be related to red snow events. Ammonium had a particular significance in this study, since it was proposed is an in situ, environmentally-friendly chemical tracer for a better understanding of hydrological karstic circulation. - (NF)


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Geografia fisica e dinamica quaternaria, issn : 0391-9838, 2006, vol. 29, n°. 1, p. 113-119, nombre de pages : 7, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 23 réf.

Date :
2006

Editeur :
Pays édition : Italie, Torino, Comitato glaciologico italiano