Description
The predominantly mountainous territory of the Province of Trento is very sensitive to changes in snow, glaciers and permafrost. The study of their variation due to the impact of climate change is therefore an important research topic, also because of the consequences on torrential and river runoff trends and slope stability.
It should be emphasised that glaciers and rock glaciers have been included among the habitats protected by the European Union through the "Habitats Directive", not only because of their continuous reduction, but also because of the unique biodiversity they host, thus they are an important natural heritage for our territory.
Local structures, bodies and institutions dealing with glaciology
| MeteoTrentino Meteotrentino is the structure of the Autonomous Province of Trento established in 1997 that deals with meteorology, snow and glaciology, in collaboration with numerous other structures at provincial and national level. In the Snow and Ice section of its website it collects glaciological data (mass balances and spring measurements) and publications on the subject. | |
| Trentino Climate Observatory Established in 2010, it is in charge of the technical-scientific coordination of the entities engaged in the Trentino territory in research and monitoring of climate variables, as well as engaged in scientific dissemination activities, information campaigns and environmental education. Its website presents a section dedicated to glaciers with a collection of monitoring studies, mass balances and other data, on Trentino, Alpine and international glaciers. | |
| SAT (Società degli Alpinisti Tridentini) The SAT has been carrying out study and research on Trentino glaciers since its foundation in 1872, in a systematic manner since 1990 through the work of the special Commission. The site presents a section dedicated to glaciological activity. Moreover, the Glaciological Commission publishes interesting news on its Facebook page. | |
| MUSE - Trento Museum of Science The researchers of the section Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology also deal with high-altitude aquatic ecosystems, including glaciers. In addition, the entire fourth floor of the exhibition is dedicated to theGlacial Experience with the reconstruction of a glaciated environment. | |
| Edmund Mach Foundation La section of Hydrobiology of the Edmund Mach Foundation's Research and Innovation Centre carries out research into biodiversity and the temporal and spatial evolution of the ecological characteristics of the hydrographic network in the Alpine and peri-Alpine region. In particular, it has the ROCK-ME - Response of Rock Glaciers to global warming project underway. | |
| Cabina di regia of protected areas and glaciers This is the instrument through which the Autonomous Province of Trento coordinates, promotes and directs nature conservation and development actions in the provincial protected areas, including glaciers and periglacial areas. On the initiative of the Cabina di Regiathe Glacier Days project was launched in 2022, a cycle of meetings on the topic of glaciers and high alpine environments. | |
Glacier Days - series of meetings 2022-2023 | ||
| Presentations by the speakers at the first meeting of "Glacier Days" (Peio, 13 September 2022) | ||
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| Presentations by speakers at the second meeting of "Glacier Days" (Caderzone, 4 July 2023) | ||
Articles in scientific journals and other materials | ||
| Book "Glaciers of Trentino. High altitude ecosystems between history and research" by Alberto Carton, Cristian Ferrari (Cierre Edizioni, 2025) The book explores the world of ice and glaciers in Trentino, considering them as large high-altitude ecosystems and analysing their evolution over time. The work tells the story of these unique and fragile environments, following the evolution over time of their morphology and that of the surrounding areas. | |
| The retreat of glaciers: different areas of the Earth but equal colonisation processes The international journal Nature (July 2024) publishes the research conducted by a team led by the State University of Milan, in which MUSE also took part: the colonisation and interaction between microorganisms, flora and fauna, following the retreat of glaciers follows a similar dynamic all over the world. | |
| The glaciers in Trentino are melting. By how much? The report presented on 27 February 2024 by the SAT Glaciological Commission with 2023 data on the retreat of Trentino's glaciers. | |
| Climate change in Trentino. Observations, future scenarios and impacts The report published at the end of 2022 by APPA-Agenzia Provinciale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente. | |
| Annual measurement campaign on Trentino glaciers - Report 2022 The latest report by Luca Carturan, University of Padua (Department of Territory and Agro-Forestry Systems) | |
| Accumulation measurement campaign on Trentino glaciers - Report 2022 The latest report by Luca Carturan, University of Padua (Department of Territory and Agro-Forestry Systems) | |
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| "Formation, evolution and fate of new proglacial lakes in the deglaciating Alps". | |
| Geochemical response of Alpine Rock Glaciers to global warming: hydroecological consequences of trace element Export | |
| UNESCO finds that some iconic World Heritage glaciers will disappear by 2050 The UNESCO report 'World heritage glaciers: sentinels of climate change' (2022) | |
| Radar monitoring of permafrost slopes Radar monitoring campaign near Rifugio Vioz, in the Stelvio National Park - Trentino sector | |
| Report 2022 of the Legambiente Glacier Caravan. | |
Articles in the local press and web titles | ||
| Careser ice for water: 10% drop | ||
| The book "Glaciers of Trentino" was presented at the Trento Film Festival Press release PAT - 5 May 2025 | ||
| Glaciers retreat and plants colonise freed space From the online newspaper Il Dolomiti-L'altra Montagna - 8 August 2024 | ||
| This year's exceptional rainfall makes glaciers breathe Press release PAT - 25 June 2024 | ||
| From the online newspaper Il Dolomiti - 9 October 2023 | ||
| Greenpeace-Italian Glaciological Committee expedition on the Forni Glacier Greenpeace press release - 24 August 2023 | ||
| Trentino glaciers, measurements confirm declining snow trend Press release PAT - 16 June 2023 | ||
| Retreating glaciers, Alpine river biodiversity at risk From the online newspaper Il Dolomiti - 4 May 2023 | ||
| From the monthly newspaper Le Scienze - May 2023 | ||
| Glaciers, a negative record every year: 'But we scientists are not listened to' From the newspaper L'Adige - 9 January 2023 | ||
| Legambiente, 2022 annus horribilis for Alpine glaciers: average retreat of 40 metres From the newspaper l'Adige - 7 December 2022 | ||
| Glaciers and mountain torrents suffer, signs of an emergency From daily newspaper l'Adige - 30 November 2022 | ||
| From the online newspaper Il Dolomiti - 27 October 2022 | ||
| From the online newspaper Il Dolomiti - 26 October 2022 | ||
| SOS glaciers, experts confront each other From the daily newspaper l'Adige - 19 September 2022 | ||
| Glacier Days: Climate change at the centre of the first meeting From the online newspaper gardapost.it - 13 September 2022 | ||
| The Adamello ice retreats and the remains of a World War I soldier emerge From the online newspaper Il Dolomiti - 30 August 2022 | ||
| From the newspaper l'Adige, 25 August 2022 | ||
| Adamello-Mandrone, the glacier retreats more and more From the newspaper l'Adige, 4 August 2022 | ||