With regard to paleoclimatic reconstructions, besides the landslides, also the glaciers existing today have a significant role: their small size permits them to respond readily to even the slightest changes in temperature and precipitation. Almost in real time, they record climate variations with fluctuations of volume. Rock glaciers also play an important role in climatic and paleoclimatic reconstructions, since they mark the lower limit of discontinuous mountain permafrost. With regard to Permafrost, the distribution in the Dolomites is not yet completely known due to the lack of detailed studies over the entire territory. It is certainly present, though in a discontinuous way, over 2300/2500 m a.s.l., but its distribution is extremely variable since, apart from the mean annual temperature, it depends on slope insolation, distribution, duration and thickness of the snow cover and characteristics of the bedrock. The distribution of permafrost can be assessed by considering the distribution of landforms connected to its presence (rock glaciers, block streams etc.) or by making use of models based on the integration of the principal environmental parameters that can reveal its presence. To date, the distribution of permafrost in the Dolomites is partially known by considering the distribution of active rock glaciers, which have been utilised for a preliminary assessment. In the whole Dolomite region some one hundred rock glaciers have been identified. They cover a total extension of some 1000 ha, but out of these only 3% are considered active and, as such, indicator of permafrost. All the others belong to the category of dormant or relict rock glaciers (sensu Barsch, 1996). These forms are typically found in cirques or in those areas where orography produces a good protection against insolation. In any case, they are mostly located in the northern sectors. Rock glaciers are particularly concentrated in the Lagorai, Costabella and Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo ranges. In the latter and in the Marmolada Group (cima Uomo, Sasso Val Fredda), some forms are probably still active. The elevation of dormant or relict rock glaciers ranges from 1800 to 2300 m. Therefore, possible remnants of permafrost are to be sought at higher altitudes. In the Dolomites, investigations on the presence of permafrost by means of models have been carried out only in the Cordevole catchment, with the purpose of identifying potential permafrost areas (with no geomorphological evidence) in relation to the present climate conditions recorded by automatic meteorological gauges in the past 15 years (1989-2004). The results of this investigation have identified some 5 km2 characterised by possible permafrost. These areas are located beyond the altitude of 2700 m, on rather steep slopes facing north. A larger area (some 27 km2), though, seems to be characterised by possible permafrost. These areas are mostly found above 2500 m; rare remnants might be found as far down as 2000 m. Therefore, in the Cordevole catchment, the total surface of potential permafrost could amount to some 32 km2.

• = low or absent; •• = medium; ••• = high

The entire aforementioned relict, recent and present forms, which will be described more in detail in the various Dolomite Systems, make up an exemplary range of diverse and complex geomorphological phenomena. They have the attributes of scientific and educational exemplarity, morphological evolution and paleoenvironmental evidence and make the Dolomites into a “field laboratory” of outstanding importance for geomorphological research. In addition, in some places they have an ecological value as exclusive habitats of certain vegetal and animal species, as in the cases of small ponds, moraine deposits or landslide impoundments. All these landforms are part of a “geoheritage” of significant value for scientific research and education. Furthermore, they are also an important geomorphological component of the Dolomite “geodiversity”. Hereafter the nine Dolomite Systems are described, following the morphogenetic subdivision shown in Plate MP-2. More in detail, Plate MP-4 summarises the different presence of structural and climatic landforms in the various Systems: also some of the most representative phenomena of the Dolomites are reported (fault scarps, fault-line valleys, karst, glaciopressure and landslides). On the other hand, Plate MP-5 summarises the various types of geo(morpho)diversity found in the Systems. The different scales of representation and the varying spatial frequency are also indicated. The specific details concerning both plates have been pinpointed and described in the discussion of the various Systems.

• = low or absent; •• = medium; ••• = high