The Triglav glacier is situated in the Julian Alps in the northwest of Slovenia. Presented are the results of investigations and measurements of the Triglav glacier done between the years 1999 and ...2012. It was for the first time during this period that its depth was measured by means of georadar. Its area was measured on a yearly basis by means of various land surveying methods which are stated in detail. We explained the dynamics of the glacier’s shrinking on the grounds of weather conditions of each respective year. Due to the glacier’s concave form, snow in the past few years remained all until the late summer, particularly in the central and lower sections of the glacier. If such weather conditions continue, and the amount of winter precipitation further increases, the remainder of the Triglav glacier, though small in size, will continue to exist for a few years.
Snow cover is a frequent phenomenon in Slovenia and even in the lowlands of the interior regions, it can last for several weeks. The properties of snow and winter weather after the snow cover has ...formed, determine the load of snow upon houses, trees and other objects. Water accumulation of snow cover (WASC) gives us the amount of water in snow and therefore also the weight of snow. Deep snow cover can soak its own melting water from the surface, so WASC does not decrease as fast as one would conclude from the intensity of melting. WASC is also a good indicator of winter precipitation where precipitation stations are rare and precipitation gradients are big. The researches carried out in the winter 2005/2006 showed that precipitation in the central part of the Bohinj ridge in the Slovenian Julian Alps, was about 50% higher than at its northern edge, where the meteorological station Vogel is located.
Spatial and temporal variability of annual and seasonal (summer and winter) precipitation sums and mean temperatures observed at forty-six stations in Slovenia from 1961 to 2011 were analysed. ...Principal component analysis (PCA) and a varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization were used to determine the dominant precipitation and temperature patterns in Slovenia. Time series data from the PCA (the principal components, PCs) were used to look for the existence of linear trends and periodicity in the precipitation and temperature data using the Mann–Kendall test and spectral analysis. The relationships between the PCs and circulation patterns, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the East Atlantic (EA) pattern, and the East Atlantic/West Russia (EA/WR) pattern, were also examined.
The first four PCs of precipitation (temperature) contributed from 78.7% in summer to 94.5% in winter (98.4% in winter to 98.5% in summer) of the total variance, and their loadings indicated that the most (least) intensive signal was observed over mountainous northwest Slovenia. A statistically significant decrease of PC1 in annual precipitation and increase in mean annual and both seasonal temperatures was found. Significant relationships existed between annual and winter precipitation in Slovenia and the NAO, and temperature and the East Atlantic pattern from 1961 to 2011. Applying the spectral analysis, periods of 2.4years in summer precipitation and 2.8years in winter precipitation series, and 2.1years in annual temperature (significant at the 5% level of significance) were found in Slovenia.
•Annual and seasonal variability of precipitation and temperatures in Slovenia have been analyzed•The time series were examined by the method of Principal Component Analysis•A significant decreasing trend in annual precipitation and an increasing trend in mean temperatures was found•Significant relationships existed between the NAO and precipitation in Slovenia, and the EAO and temperature•Periods of 2.4 years in summer and 2.8 years in winter precipitation, and 2.1 years in annual temperature were found
The Triglav Glacier lies on the southeast edge of the Alps, in the Julian Alps below Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak. Its upper edge lies at 2,500 m. The glacier has been regularly measured, ...observed, and studied since 1946 by the Anton Melik Geographical Institute at ZRC SAZU. When measurements began it covered 14.4 ha, but today it covers less than half a hectare. The glacier no longer has all glacial features. Thus one may only speak of a glacier because of its past, when it clearly had the basic features of an alpine glacier. Analysis of the geomorphic forms of the Triglav Mountains allows reconstruction of past glaciation. Moraine deposits above the upper edge of Mount Triglav’s North Wall indicate the glacier’s extent during the Little Ice Age. When this ended in the nineteenth century, visits to the Triglav Mountains started increasing, and so there are many written and pictorial sources available from this time.
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