Suretta Sud Glacier - Servizio Glaciologico Lombardo

Editorial
EDITORIAL
As previously announced, Terra Glacialis has changed its format.
For the better or the worse, over the last decade the dissemination of scientific reports
has witnessed many changes, mostly driven by Internet, with further developments
probably forthcoming.
At the same time, other transformations as sudden as the previous ones have affected
the objects of our studies: the glaciers.
As a consequence, after 11 years we have been forced to partially reconsider scope,
contents and timing of this magazine.
More in detail, the fast evolution (actually a dramatic involution) of the glacialism of
the Central Alps and the consequent and growing attention it demands are calling for
a faster turnaround between the monitoring/data collection phase, on the one hand,
and their analysis/divulgation among the scientific community, local authorities and
ever growing ranks of interested and passionate people, on the other hand.
Economic and organizational reasons internal to SGL, the editor of TG, have
somehow dictated our choices: the result is the magazine the readers have in their
hands.
Having done away with monographs, articles addressing methodologies, monitoring
reports or other miscellanea in favour of a faster and more effective report of meteorological,
snow and glaciers data this TG is all about the last hydrological year.
While we definitely hope that this will foster a quicker evaluation of the events, we
are aiming at further timing improvements in the near future.
The English/Italian version has disappeared, but only apparently. Actually, rather
than forgoing the export of its contents, Terra Glacialis is splitting up, with a parallel
edition in the “Language of Science” available in digital format only: the advantages
of this choice are evident in terms of ecologic and economic returns, improved timing
and faster international distribution.
More in detail, with the exception of the monitoring data, we still plan to maintain all
the contents the reader was used to find, sometimes in a seemingly disorganized
layout, within the previous Terra Glacialis. This new Terra Glacialis will have a different
format, possibly a less rigid publication timing but a more organic and coherent
content.
In practice, a series of monographic issues will be dedicated to specific topics, in the
wake of our 2008 publication “Ghiacciai montani e cambiamenti climatici nell’ultimo
secolo” (Mountain glaciers and climate changes in the last century). Several subjects
are being evaluated already.
To prove our determination, three TG’s, including this one, have been published in
the last nine months: a remarkable effort for our organization. Still, more issues and
more innovations are being considered.
Back to our TG, the 2007-08 hydrological year has left us, once more, with a regional
glacialism in its worst condition ever, though showing some signs of a slow-
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