Articles | Volume 25, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3027-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3027-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
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05 Sep 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 05 Sep 2025
| 05 Sep 2025
Failure of Marmolada Glacier (Dolomites, Italy) in 2022: data-based back analysis of possible collapse mechanisms
Roberto Giovanni Francese
Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, 43124, Italy
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, Sgonico, 34010, Italy
Roberto Valentino
Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, 43124, Italy
Wilfried Haeberli
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
Aldino Bondesan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World, University of Padova, Padova, 35122, Italy
Department of Military Geography, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
Massimo Giorgi
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, Sgonico, 34010, Italy
Stefano Picotti
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, Sgonico, 34010, Italy
Franco Pettenati
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, Sgonico, 34010, Italy
Denis Sandron
National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS, Sgonico, 34010, Italy
Gianni Ramponi
Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy
Mauro Valt
Environmental Protection Agency of Veneto, Centro Valanghe di Arabba, Arabba, 32020, Italy
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Executive editor
The avalanche event of 2022 investigated in this paper is one of the deadliest historically recorded in the Alps. The assessment of the predisposing and triggering factors is of particular relevance in a climate change context, as the occurrence of extremely high temperatures is expected to occur in increasing frequency. The paper provides a numerical simulation approach that can assist a more general risk analysis for this type of natural hazards.
The avalanche event of 2022 investigated in this paper is one of the deadliest historically...
Short summary
The Marmolada Glacier collapse (3 July 2022), one of the deadliest in the Alps, caused 11 fatalities and occurred during an anomalously warm summer. Analysis links the failure to the combined action of permafrost degradation, elevated ice temperatures, hydrostatic pressure, hydraulic jacking and reduced basal friction. No single factor alone explains the failure. The event highlights how climate-driven thermal and hydraulic factors increasingly threaten the stability of cold mountain glaciers.
The Marmolada Glacier collapse (3 July 2022), one of the deadliest in the Alps, caused 11...
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