GLACIER HAZARDS AT BELVEDERE GLACIER AND THE MONTE ROSA EAST FACE , ITALIAN ALPS : PROCESSES AND MITIGATION

In summer 2001, the Belvedere glacier, Macugnaga, Italian Alps, started a surge-type movement with ice velocities increased by one order of magnitude. A lake of 3 million m 3 in volume formed on the glacier during spring 2002. Rapid emergency actions were initiated by the Italian Civil Defense Department. This included evacuation of certain parts of the village of Macugnaga, automatic alarm systems, installation of pumps, and detailed scientific investigations. Significantly reduced melt water input in July 2002, together with naturally developing subglacial drainage, helped to stabilise and then lower the lake level. In spring 2003, however, the lake developed again. In mid-June 2003, the lake burst out within a few days, without causing any damage. Besides, the advancing Belvedere glacier causes extensive rockand ice-fall activity, overruns tourist installations and destabilises its moraines. In the Monte Rosa east face, enhanced rock-fall activity is observed. A drastic decrease in glaciation of the flank uncovers large rock areas and changes the thermal regime of the wall.

[1]  J. Noetzli,et al.  Mountain permafrost and recent Alpine rock-fall events: a GIS-based approach to determine critical factors and runout zones , 2003 .

[2]  Jeffrey S. Kargel,et al.  Rapid ASTER Imaging Facilitates Timely Assessment of Glacier Hazards and Disasters , 2003 .

[3]  Michael C. R. Davies,et al.  The effect of rise in mean annual temperature on the stability of rock slopes containing ice‐filled discontinuities , 2001 .

[4]  S. Silvano,et al.  Avalanche of 18 January 1997 on Brenva glacier, Mont Blanc Group, Western Italian Alps: an unusual process of formation , 2001, Annals of Glaciology.

[5]  W. Haeberli,et al.  Mapping the distribution of buried glacier ice--an example from Lago delle Locce, Monte Rosa, Italian Alps , 1986 .

[6]  G. Barla,et al.  Brenva Glacier Rock Avalanche of 18 January 1997 on the Mount Blanc Range, Northwest Italy , 2002 .

[7]  Andreas Kääb,et al.  A surge-type movement at Ghiacciaio del Belvedere and a developing slope instability in the east face of Monte Rosa, Macugnaga, Italian Alps , 2002 .

[8]  Andreas Kääb,et al.  Evolution of a High-Mountain Thermokarst Lake in the Swiss Alps , 2001 .

[9]  Douglas I. Benn,et al.  Rapid growth of a supraglacial lake, Ngozumpa Glacier, Khumbu Himal, Nepal , 2000 .

[10]  John M. Reynolds,et al.  On the formation of supraglacial lakes on debris- covered glaciers , 2000 .

[11]  Andreas Kääb,et al.  Glacier and Permafrost Hazards in High Mountains , 2005 .

[12]  T. Schuler.  Investigation of water drainage through an alpine glacier by tracer experiments and numerical modeling , 2002 .

[13]  William D. Harrison,et al.  How much do we really know about glacier surging? , 2003, Annals of Glaciology.

[14]  John E. Costa,et al.  OUTBURST FLOODS FROM GLACIER-DAMMED LAKES: THE EFFECT OF MODE OF LAKE DRAINAGE ON FLOOD MAGNITUDE , 1996 .

[15]  Charles F. Raymond,et al.  How do glaciers surge? A review , 1987 .

[16]  K. Chikita,et al.  Hydrodynamics of a Supraglacial Lake and Its Effect on the Basin Expansion: Tsho Rolpa, Rolwaling Valley, Nepal Himalaya , 1999 .