Miage Glacier: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Miage Glacier Sunset.jpg|thumb|The ends of Miage Glacier's terminal lobes at sunset, as seen from northeastern Val Veny in August 2010]]'''Miage Glacier''' is a [[debris]]-covered [[glacier]] in northwestern [[Italy]]. It is situated on the southwest flank of the [[Mont Blanc Massif]], flowing from [[Col de Bionnassay]] (3892m [[above sea level]]) into [[Val Veny]] in the extreme northwest of Italy. It is Italy's longest glacier at a length of roughly 10km and the largest debris-covered glacier in Europe.<ref>{{cite doi|10.1191/0959683605hl809rr}}</ref> Approximately 5km<sup>2</sup> of its total area of ~11km<sup>2</sup> is covered in debris originating primarily in [[rockfall]] from surrounding walls<ref>{{cite doi|10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.09.025}}</ref> and [[avalanching]] in accumulation areas of its four [[tributaries]].<ref name=cold>{{cite doi|10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.03.004}}</ref> Debris carried along within the glacier, however, is also being exposed at accelerating rates due to accelerating thinning of the glacier tongue.<ref name=cold/> |
[[File:Miage Glacier Sunset.jpg|thumb|The ends of Miage Glacier's terminal lobes at sunset, as seen from northeastern Val Veny in August 2010]]'''Miage Glacier''' is a [[debris]]-covered [[glacier]] in northwestern [[Italy]]. It is situated on the southwest flank of the [[Mont Blanc Massif]], flowing from [[Col de Bionnassay]] (3892m [[above sea level]]) into [[Val Veny]] in the extreme northwest of Italy. It is Italy's longest glacier at a length of roughly 10km and the largest debris-covered glacier in Europe.<ref>{{cite doi|10.1191/0959683605hl809rr}}</ref> Approximately 5km<sup>2</sup> of its total area of ~11km<sup>2</sup> is covered in debris originating primarily in [[rockfall]] from surrounding walls<ref>{{cite doi|10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.09.025}}</ref> and [[avalanching]] in accumulation areas of its four [[tributaries]].<ref name=cold>{{cite doi|10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.03.004}}</ref> Debris carried along within the glacier, however, is also being exposed at accelerating rates due to accelerating thinning of the glacier tongue.<ref name=cold/> |
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The number of sources of supraglacial debris as well as the unusual, [[mica schist]]-dominated [[lithology]] of the rock walls surrounding the glacier, makes for a varied debris lithology; debris cover becomes continuous at ~2400m [[above mean sea level|asl]] and remains unbroken to the [[terminus]]. Patchy areas can occur, however, where [[crevasses]] or [[moulins]] occur.<ref name=cold/> Debris thickness generally increases from a few cm at 2400m asl to over 1m at the terminus at ~1775m asl, although the spatial distribution of thicknesses is inhomogenous especially on parts of the northern terminal lobe. |
The number of sources of supraglacial debris as well as the unusual, [[mica schist]]-dominated [[lithology]] of the rock walls surrounding the glacier, makes for a varied debris lithology; debris cover becomes continuous at ~2400m [[above mean sea level|asl]] and remains unbroken to the [[terminus]]. Patchy areas can occur, however, where [[crevasses]] or [[moulins]] occur.<ref name=cold/> Debris thickness generally increases from a few cm at 2400m asl to over 1m at the terminus at ~1775m asl, although the spatial distribution of thicknesses is inhomogenous especially on parts of the northern terminal lobe.<ref>{{cite doi|10.1029/2009JD013224, 2010}}</ref> |
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===Miage Lake=== |
===Miage Lake=== |
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Revision as of 21:09, 13 September 2010
Miage Glacier is a debris-covered glacier in northwestern Italy. It is situated on the southwest flank of the Mont Blanc Massif, flowing from Col de Bionnassay (3892m above sea level) into Val Veny in the extreme northwest of Italy. It is Italy's longest glacier at a length of roughly 10km and the largest debris-covered glacier in Europe.[1] Approximately 5km2 of its total area of ~11km2 is covered in debris originating primarily in rockfall from surrounding walls[2] and avalanching in accumulation areas of its four tributaries.[3] Debris carried along within the glacier, however, is also being exposed at accelerating rates due to accelerating thinning of the glacier tongue.[3]
The number of sources of supraglacial debris as well as the unusual, mica schist-dominated lithology of the rock walls surrounding the glacier, makes for a varied debris lithology; debris cover becomes continuous at ~2400m asl and remains unbroken to the terminus. Patchy areas can occur, however, where crevasses or moulins occur.[3] Debris thickness generally increases from a few cm at 2400m asl to over 1m at the terminus at ~1775m asl, although the spatial distribution of thicknesses is inhomogenous especially on parts of the northern terminal lobe.[4]
Miage Lake
Miage Lake is an ice-contact lake near the southern end of Miage Glacier, located on the outside of the glacier's 90-degree bend eastwards[3]. It is a popular tourist attraction due, among others, to the spectacular ice cliffs rising up to one side and its two-coloured nature. The colours reflect varying sediment concentrations in the water which arise due to the filtering effect of the debris[5].
Huge ice blocks have been known to break off the glacier and fall into the lake, providing another major tourist attraction despite the low absolute likelihood of such an even occurring. On August 7, 1996, a particularly large block, estimated to have had a volume of 7000-16000m3, fell into the lake causing an abnormallylarge wave which seriously wounded several tourists [6].
References
- ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1191/0959683605hl809rr, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi=10.1191/0959683605hl809rrinstead. - ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.09.025, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.09.025instead. - ^ a b c d Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.03.004, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi=10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.03.004instead. Cite error: The named reference "cold" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1029/2009JD013224, 2010, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi=10.1029/2009JD013224, 2010instead. - ^ http://www.swisseduc.ch/glaciers/alps/miage/index-en.html?id=7
- ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1016/S1464-1895(99)00012-5, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi=10.1016/S1464-1895(99)00012-5instead.