This article explains the dramatic decline of the Ventina glacier in northern Lombardy, Italy. It also describes how scientists are changing the way they monitor glacial retreat.
It summarizes a century-plus record of measurements and recent acceleration in ice loss driven by climate change. The article details the shift from traditional on-site stake measurements to modern drone and remote sensing techniques.
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Ventina glacier: from stakes to satellites
For 130 years glaciologists used wooden or metal stakes to measure the Ventina glacier’s annual movement and retreat. This simple but effective field method built a continuous baseline of change since 1895.
Those markers are now being buried or destroyed by rockslides and destabilized terrain. This has forced a new era in glacier monitoring.
Why remote sensing and drones are now essential
The Lombardy Glaciological Service announced it will rely on drones and other remote sensing tools to track the Ventina glacier. The landscape around the ice has become too dangerous for regular stake placement.
Remote methods offer high-resolution maps and repeatable data without putting survey teams at risk. They can also detect rapid changes that on-site markers would miss.
Since formal measurements began in 1895 the Ventina has retreated 1.7 kilometres in length. The pace has increased notably in recent years.
The past decade alone saw a loss of 431 metres, and nearly half of that retreat has occurred since 2021. Scientists link this acceleration to hotter summers and inadequate winter snowfall.
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Residual snowpack — lingering summer snow which once helped stabilize ice — is now disappearing earlier and more frequently by the end of summer. This failure to recharge leads to thinning, increased rockfall, and unstable moraines that have buried the long-standing measurement stakes.
Ventina’s decline is part of a broader, alarming trend across Italy. Mountain glaciers in the Alps, Dolomites, and Apennines have been shrinking for decades.
The Alps, in particular, are a climate hotspot. They are warming at roughly twice the global average and have already lost more than 64 percent of their glacier volume.
Globally, glacier mass loss has accelerated as well. Ice loss increased from about 231 billion tonnes annually in the early 2000s to 314 billion tonnes in the following decade.
What this means for travelers and local communities
As a travel guide writer with thirty years’ experience in Italy, I’ve watched alpine landscapes evolve. I urge visitors to see these places thoughtfully.
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For hikers, mountaineers, and photographers, understanding that a glacier’s familiar routes can change dramatically and suddenly is vital for safety. Local economies that rely on mountain tourism, hydroelectric power, or seasonal water supplies are already feeling the impacts.
Responsible travel matters: choose guided excursions with certified mountain guides. Support local conservation initiatives, and leave no trace.
The Italian Riviera — where people have long fled the heat to cool sea breezes — is not isolated from climate shifts in the mountains. Mountain runoff, sea-level and weather patterns all tie into a regional climate system that affects both high valleys and coastal promenades.
When planning a trip that combines mountain and sea, consider visiting towns that showcase Italy’s environmental and cultural diversity.
Pairing a short alpine trek or a visit to a glaciological center in Lombardy with a few days along the Riviera offers a fuller picture of Italy’s changing landscapes. Stroll Genoa’s old harbor, sail to Portofino, or watch the sunset in Monterosso al Mare.
Here is the source article for this story: Geologists turn to remote tools as Italy’s Ventina glacier melts fast
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