,,- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Torino, Italy (matteo.bertagni@polito.it)
Understanding melt processes and their contribution to runoff in glacierized catchments requires accounting for the strong spatial variability of surface energy exchanges. In this study, we analyse the spatial distribution of surface energy and mass balance at Rutor Glacier, the sixth-largest glacier in the Italian Alps, using field observations and a spatially distributed, physically based modelling framework.
The model combines in situ meteorological measurements collected at different elevations with high-resolution topographic information derived from a 5 m digital elevation model. Surface energy and mass-balance components are solved across the glacier surface to investigate how elevation, slope, and aspect influence melt patterns. Simulations are conducted for two consecutive hydrological years (September 2023–August 2024 and September 2024–August 2025), allowing an assessment of interannual variability in surface energy exchanges and melt dynamics.
The analysis focuses on characterizing spatial patterns of surface energy balance and surface melting, exploring their implications for meltwater production at the cell and watershed scales. Modelled meltwater fluxes are compared with available discharge observations to evaluate the consistency between simulated melt dynamics and field-based hydrological signals. Results and their relevance for snow- and glacier-fed runoff generation in mountain catchments will be discussed.
How to cite: Bertagni, M., Marini, F., Tamea, S., and Camporeale, C.: Spatio-temporal variability of surface energy and mass balance at Rutor Glacier (Italian Alps), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13635, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13635, 2026.
