DYNAgeoZONES Working Group
Dynamic Geodiversity of Miage debris-covered Glacier, Mont Blanc, Western Alps (Pictures and GIS elaboration by Italian Glaciological Committee)
Chair: Prof. Marco Giardino (University of Torino, Italy) email
Co-Chair: Prof. Zbigniew Zwoliński (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland) email
Secretary: Dr. Costanza Morino (University of Padova, Italy) email
WG members:
- Marta Chiarle
- John Clague
- Andrea Coronato
- Philip Deline
- Monique Fort
- Michele Freppaz
- Mark Furze
- Thomas Glade
- John Gordon
- Jan Hjort
- Fabien Hoblea
- Maria Jennessen
- Jeronimo Lopez-Martinez
- Małgorzata Mazurek
- Denis Mercier
- Aga Nowak
- Jan-Chritopher Otto
- Antonello Provenzale
- Lothar Schrott
- Olav Slaymaker
- Mateusz Strzelecki
- Cristina Viani
Introduction to WG activity
The IAG Working Group on “DYNAgeoZONES” (Dynamic geodiversity of critical zones in mountain and polar regions) focusses on the accelerated geodiversity change in Critical Zones of mountain and polar regions. In these zones, complex abiotic and biotic interactions exert a dynamic control on the geomorphological landscape, but also determine the availability of geosystem services. Many field areas can expand from the Landform Geodiversity and Critical Zones studies:
- Weathering and denudation processes in mountain and polar Critical Zones and their changes, especially formation of new critical zones in deglaciating areas at the forefront of retreating glaciers, i.e. formation of widespread paraglacial areas;
- Short- and long-term changes in the geodiversity of Critical Zones in mountain and polar regions, comprising the effects of temperature increase, hydrological modifications, permafrost thaw and glacier retreat.
Since impactful socio-economic and cultural consequences can derive from the changes occurring in mountain and polar regions, geodiversity studies can help in assessing of changes in geosystem services and improve awareness on natural risks.
Therefore, by means of multitemporal repeatable geomorphological mapping and environmental monitoring at mountain observatories and polar stations, the proposed Working Group aims at improving human perception of geodiversity of these fragile and sensitive environments. Today’s challenge is not only to face the consequences of global warming in Critical Zones, but also to rapidly assess geomorphological changes in mountain and polar “dynamic” geodiversity. The aim of the IAG DYNAgeoZONES Working Group will be multiple:
- to cooperate with local communities of mountain and polar regions to raise awareness on geodiversity and geosystem services;
- to build a geomorphological and historical record of changes in mountain and polar landscapes, as part of our cultural and geographical heritage;
- mapping the changes in mountain and polar environments, with a particular focus on the rise or decline or exchange of respectively new and old Critical Zones, to aid both the reconstruction of past geodiversity scenarios and the assessments of future ones.