Geomorphic influence on small glacier response to post Little Ice Age climate warming: Julian Alps, Europe

The evolution of glaciers and ice patches, as well as the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) since the Little Ice Age (LIA) were investigated in the Julian Alps (south-eastern European Alps) including ice masses previously unreported. 23 permanent firn and ice bodies have been recognized in the 1853 km2 of this alpine sector, covering a total area in 2012 of 0.385 km2, about one-fifth of the area covered during the LIA (2.350 km2)… … The ice masses in the region are at the lowest elevations of any glaciers in the Alpine Chain, and are characterized by low dynamics. The ELAs of the two major LIA glaciers (Canin and Triglav) have been established at 2275 ± 10 m and 2486 ± 10 m, respectively, by… ... Changes in the ELA and glaciers extension indicate a decoupling from climate. This is most evident in the smallest avalanche-dominated ice bodies, which are currently controlled mainly by precipitation… … resilient to recent climate warming instead of rapidly disappearing as should be expected.