Mapping alpine glaciers changes from space

This paper presents the results obtained from the analysis of a set of multitemporal Landsat images for the study of the status of the Italian Alpine glaciers. A fuzzy set based classification technique has permitted the identification of snow and exposed ice in glaciated areas. Integration with topographic information allowed the elevation of the glacier terminus to be determined. A comparison of their changes with elevation measured during field surveys supports the knowledge of glacier retreat of the last decades.