Italian glaciers, sensitive sentinels of climate change

Glaciers are relevant proxies for reconstructing climate change in the past because they react to climatic parameters variation by modifying their mass balance that, in turn, drives changes of Equilibrium Line Altitude, frontal fluctuations, and variation in shape and size. Therefore, glaciers are very sensitive sentinels of climate changes. These relevant natural archives of the climate history are also strategic as “water tower” retaining a precious resource of fresh water available for agricultural, civil, and industrial purposes. As documented in other mountain chains of the world, Alpine glacier experienced several fluctuations since the Last Glacial Maximum, thus recording key events of climate history relevant both at regional and global scale. Glaciological parameters reconstructed for past and present Italian glaciers furnish powerful tools for investigating and modelling environmental and climate changes occurred in the past and acting at present, being also suitable for predicting future scenarios.