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GLACIER "BELVEDERE"
Risk type: glacier flood and ice avalanches

Glacier list | Statistics
 

Type:  Valley glacier
Country:  Italy
Region:  Piemonte
Massif/Ice Cap:  Monte Rosa
Municipality:  Macugnaga
Municipality code:  
Location:  
 
Latitude (°, cent):  5.102 N
Longitude (°, cent):  7.92667 E
Surface (km2):  5.58
Lenght (km):  6
Width (km):  0.5
Min. altitude (m):  1760
Max. altitude (m):  4520
Orientation (°)  45
Slope (°)  10

EVENT:  Date  //2003 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Glacier flood (contain both lakes and water pocket)
Description  The lake "Effimero" newly formed in early summer 2003, reaching similar dimension to 2002's one.
Effects:  Also this year the lake naturally emptyed, from 18th to 20th July. Water flow in Anza stream increased, but no damages were reported.
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  

DAMAGES    

Type:  None Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Mortara G., Mercalli, L., Chiarle M., Tamburini A, Cat Berro D., (in press) - Glacial lakes in the Alps: evolution, hazards and case history. Hydrobiologia, Kluver Acad. Publ.

EVENT:  Date  //2002 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Glacier flood (contain both lakes and water pocket)
Description  Between summer 2000 and summer 2001 the glacier developed an extraordinary change in flow, geometry and surface appearance. Probably because of ice warming in the eastern face of Monte Rosa, an increase in ice flow velocity caused a "surge" in Belvedere glacier. In June 2001, the guardians of Zamboni alpine hut, observed heavily crevassed and almost debris-free ice towering above right lateral moraine (maximum stage of LIA, beginning of XIX century), and also ice filling the breach cut by the repeated outbursts of Lago delle Locce. Already in summer 2000, the lower part of the main tributary (Monte Rosa glacier) exhibited intense crevassing suggestive of accelerated flow conditions. As a consequence of the accelerated flow, the Belvedere glacier tongue considerably increased in volume. Close to the bifurcation of the tongue (around 1900 m) ice surface was some tens of meters higher than the ridge of the lateral moraine. Surge wave velocity was estimated in about 110 m/year. During late summer 2001 an epiglacial lake ("half moon" shaped) appeared at the foot of the eastern face of Monte Rosa, filling a hollow on ice behind the main wave of surge. During the autumn and the winter 2001-02 restriction in access to Belvedere ski resort and to the path that lead to Zamboni hut were decided by local authorities, because of high risk of ice fall from the glacier out of the lateral moraine. The epiglacial lake extraordinarily enlarged in late spring 2002, because of very warm temperatures and quick winter snow melting in mid June. At the beginning of July dimensions of the lake, called "Effimero", were: volume about 3 millions m3, surface 150.000 m2, maximum depth 57 m. As the risk of GLOF was very high (in the left idrographyc side of the lake, water was dammed by a ligth band of heavily crevassed ice) a great operation of Civile Security was set up in order to face a probable emergency in Macugnaga village and Anzasca valley, and to attempt the artificial emptying of the lake; a system of pumps was placed on the lake, but the rate of artificial discharge was not sufficient. Fortunately, cooling temperatures in following weeks of July and August reduced the inflow from snow and ice melting, and water level decreased. Furthermore, water slowly discharged through subglacial conduits or through moraines.
Effects:  The lake Effimero slowly emptied during July and August, without causing dangerous increases of water flow in Pedriola and Anza stream. At the beginning of August 2002 the volume of the lake was diminished till 500.000 m3, and one month later it was almost emptied.
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  

DAMAGES    

Type:  None Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Mortara G., Mercalli L., 2002 - Il lago epiglaciale "Effimero" sul ghiacciaio del Belvedere, Macugnaga, Monte Rosa. Nimbus, n. 23-24, p. 10-17.
Mortara G., Mercalli, L., Chiarle M., Tamburini A, Cat Berro D., (in press) - Glacial lakes in the Alps: evolution, hazards and case history. Hydrobiologia, Kluver Acad. Publ.
Tamburini A., Mortara G., Belotti M., Federici P., 2003 - L’emergenza del Lago "Effimero" su Ghiacciaio del Belvedere nell’estate 2002. Terra Glacialis, VI, p. 37-54.

EVENT:  Date  //2001 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Glacier length changes
Description  A great surge phoenomenon occurred in 2001 and 2002. As a consequence of the new glacier morphology, an enormous epiglacial lake formed on its surface. For all the details see 2002 and 2003 events.
Effects:  
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  

DAMAGES    

Type:  None Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Haeberli W., Kääb A., Paul F., Chiarle M., Mortara G., Mazza A., Deline P., Richardson S., 2002 - A surge-type movement at Ghiacciaio del Belvedere and a developing slope instability in the east face of Monte Rosa, Macugnaga, Italian Alps. Norwegian Journal Geography, 56, p. 104-111.

EVENT:  Date  /9/1922 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Glacier flood (contain both lakes and water pocket)
Description  Following several days of rain a huge mass of water was expelled from the glacier.
Effects:  The wall constructed to defend Macugnaga was destroyed for a lenght of about 100 m. Big ice blocks were carried for about 6 km to Borca village.
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  

DAMAGES    

Type:  Buildings Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Mortara G., - Studio per il Comune di Macugnaga di valutazione dei pericoli con le possibili dinamiche del ghiacciaio del Belvedere.

EVENT:  Date  //1921 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Ice avalanches
Description  The increase in glacier mass produced a breaking of lateral moraines: somewhere ice forced a passage through the morainic debris, overflowing in the external side and forming an ice-cone.
Effects:  Formation of an ice-cone.
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  

DAMAGES    

Type:  None Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Gili-Borghet Anna, 1963 - Il ghiacciaio del Belvedere e gli studi compiuti fino al 1957. Bollettino del Comitato Glaciologico Italiano. Serie seconda. N.10, p.33-57

EVENT:  Date  //1904 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Glacier flood (contain both lakes and water pocket)
Description  A water pocket inside the glacier caused the progressive saturation of the right lateral moraine and its breaking down near the Alpe Pedriola.
Effects:  
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  The breach widened during GLOF from Lago delle Locce in 1970, 1978 and 1979.

DAMAGES    

Type:  None Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Mortara G., - Studio per il Comune di Macugnaga di valutazione dei pericoli con le possibili dinamiche del ghiacciaio del Belvedere.

EVENT:  Date  /8/1896 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Glacier flood (contain both lakes and water pocket)
Description  During a rainy period water cut two ways through the moraine and devasted meadows near Pecetto of Macugnaga.
Effects:  
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  

DAMAGES    

Type:  Farmland, fertile land Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

, - "La Voce" journal, August 4th 1896
Mortara G., - Studio per il Comune di Macugnaga di valutazione dei pericoli con le possibili dinamiche del Ghiacciaio del Belvedere.

EVENT:  Date  /8/1868 -  Date quality:   

Type:  Glacier flood (contain both lakes and water pocket)
Description  Strong pressure exerted by water accumulated inside the glacier as a consequence of prolonged rainfalls caused a sudden collapse of the right lateral moraine of the left glacier lobe.
Effects:  The 60-70 m wide grass plain in front of the breach was covered by boulders for about 1 km2. Also Macugnaga plain was covered by a thick layer of mud, sand and rocks.
Deaths(#)  0
Injuried (#)  0
Note  

DAMAGES    

Type:  Farmland, fertile land Description:

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Fantoli A., 1928 - I laghi glaciali e gli impianti alpini L'Energia Elettrica; anno 6, Vol. 5 (2), p. 231.
Mortara G., - Studio per il Comune di Macugnaga di valutazione dei pericoli con le possibili dinamiche del ghiacciaio del Belvedere.
Stoppani A., 1881 - Il Bel Paese. Agnelli, Milano, terza edizione, p. 647