On Tuesday from 9:00am to 10:00am we listened to the lesson of Prof. Michele Freppaz, professor of the University of Turin from the department of agricultural, forestry and food sciences and a specialist in soil and snow science.
He spoke about cryosphere basics, which includes all frozen water on Earth and is highly sensitive to climate change;
The Alps host glaciers, snow, and permafrost is making them a critical region for studying climate impacts;
Permafrost:
- Stabilizes mountain rocks; melting can cause rockfalls;
- Found at high elevations (>2500m) but also in unique low-elevation microclimates (e.g., “chimney effect” areas)
- Creates unique landscapes like “sorted circles” and supports slow-growing “dwarf forests.”;
Snow and Glaciers:
- Snow accumulates above the “equilibrium line” and transforms into glacier ice over 5–10 years;
- Glaciers are archives of past climates, preserving atmospheric and environmental data;
Climate Vulnerability: Snow and ice respond rapidly to temperature changes, making them indicators of global warming.
