Significant mass loss in the accumulation area of the Adamello glacier indicated by the chronology of a 46 m ice core

Abstract. Dating glaciers is an arduous yet essential task in ice core studies, which becomes even more challenging when the glacier experiencing mass loss accumulation zone as result of climate warming, leading to older surface unknown age. In this context, we dated a 46 m deep from Central Italian Alps retrieved 2016 Adamello locality Pian di Neve (3100 a.s.l.). Here present timescale for obtained by integrating results analyses radionuclides 210Pb and 137Cs with annual layer counting derived pollen refractory black carbon concentrations. Our clearly indicate that than drilling date about 20 years reaches back around 1944. For period 1995–2016 balance at site (former zone) decreased on average 1 w.e. a?1 compared 1963–1986. Despite severe affecting former zone, show it possible obtain reliable such temperate using seasonality combination 137Cs. are therefore very encouraging open new perspectives potential informative palaeoarchives.