Abstract ID: 3.9765 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Alpine glaciers are experiencing dramatic downwasting in the face of an unprecedented climate crisis characteristic of the Anthropocene, remaining vital components of glacio-hydrological systems, ecological systems, and broader socio-economic activities. This research investigates the role of glaciers in sustaining water security within the Anthropocene, focusing on the question: “What is the response of glacierized mountain regions to droughts?” To address this, we will establish a comprehensive drought inventory for Italian mountain regions from 2000 to the present. Subsequently, we will quantify the impacts of these drought events on key components of the mountain environment: hydrological response (through analysis of streamflow and soil moisture), glacier dynamics (using mass balance measurements and glacial melt simulation models), ecological health (measured through vegetation indices such as Gross Primary Productivity, or GPP), and impacts on human systems (assessed via field surveys and web-based media analysis). By integrating these multi-faceted impact assessments with climate change scenarios, we aim to project the future vulnerability of glacierized mountain regions to drought, thereby elucidating the complex interplay between climate change, drought events, and the long-term resilience of these critical water resources.