A regional inventory of rock glaciers and protalus ramparts in the central Italian Alps

摘要: Abstract We present a regional inventory of rock glaciers ( n  = 1514) and protalus ramparts (228) for the Lombardy region, central Italian Alps. To identify classify landforms we inspect three sequential air-orthophoto mosaics 2 m-DSM, conduct confirmatory field work. The forms an empirical basis to analyze: (i) relative contribution hillslope (i.e., talus slopes) glacial moraines) sediment stores glacier supply; (ii) linkages between inventoried local topographic attributes; (iii) spatial variability periglacial activity in relation parsimonious set environmental variables elevation, precipitation, lithology); (iv) effects Pleistocene–Holocene climatic transition on distribution intact relict landforms. This analysis reveals that elevation termini can vary over 200 m as function slope aspect. In turn, among aspect categories is controlled by structure valley network promotes NW SE exposures. Talus prevail numerically glacier-related typology, even though latter population appears have increased during Holocene. Relict distinct patterns former display, average, 400-m drop less clustered towards northern aspects, suggesting they developed more “permafrost-prone” conditions. Analyzing study region through 27.5 km-grid has been instrumental showing specific area terminus are: positively correlated with terrain elevation; negatively mean annual precipitation. As consequence, Holocene generalized atmospheric temperature rise, progressively disappeared from wetter milder portions Analysis occurrence across litho-tectonic sectors does not provide conclusive dependences requires further analysis. inventory, which represents necessary preliminary step modelling discontinuous permafrost at scale, fills critical geographic gap context ongoing research European Alps (e.g., PermaNET).