Assessing the retreat of the Adamello Glacier and its climatic impacts on Valcamonica: a GIS and remote sensing analysis

Climate change is accelerating the retreat of Alpine glaciers, significantly impacting water resources in mountain valleys. This thesis analyses the retreat of the Adamello Glacier over recent decades using satellite imagery and GIS techniques to map glacier perimeter variations and correlate these changes to climate variables, focusing on Valcamonica, the valley located beneath the glacier. The objective is to understand how the glacier surface area has been changing during the years and how its reduction is influenced by precipitation and temperature trends. The study is based on satellite data from MODIS and Sentinel-2 to provide a detailed assessment of glacier variations from 2000s to the present. Moreover, historical data of temperature and precipitation from ARPA Lombardia are analysed to study their fluctuations in the last period and examinate their correlation with glacier changes. The study aims to investigate the relationship between glacier retreat and environmental impacts on the surrounding territory, assessing potential implications for local biodiversity, agriculture, hydroelectric production and tourism. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of climate and water resource dynamics in mountain regions like Valcamonica, providing insights to support future strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation.