The multipart Riffeltal rock glacier, located in a tributary valley of the Kaunertal, Tyrol, Austria is investigated to enlarge the knowledge about spatial and temporal development of rock glaciers in and at the margins of pro‐glacial areas and to get a better understanding of glacier–rock glacier interactions. The subject of interest consists of a complex system of two adjacent rock glacier tongues and various superposed lobes with differing ages, origin and root zones, and therefore diverse development. To determine the reasons for their diverging development, the internal structure and permafrost occurrence on and in the surrounding area of the rock glacier were studied by application of geomorphological mapping, geophysical methods and measurement of the basal temperature of the winter snow cover (BTS). Permafrost modelling was performed on the basis of BTS data and land surface parameters derived from a high resolution airborne laser scanning (ALS) digital elevation model (DEM). Additionally, the ALS data were used to measure vertical and horizontal changes of the rock glacier surface between 2006 and 2012. Glacier–rock glacier interactions during and since the Little Ice Age (LIA) are evident for the development of the studied rock glacier. A geomorphic map gives important information about the connection between glacial advance or retreat and permafrost or ground ice occurrence. The combination of all information helps in the analysis of diverse kinematic action of neighbouring rock glacier tongues. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

No abstract

Abstract. This study focuses on the quantification and analysis of geomorphic processes on the barely vegetated slopes of a recultivated iron ore mine on the Italian island of Elba using photographs from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and digital photogrammetry by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over a period of 5 1/2 years. Beside this, the study tried to work out the potential and the limitations of both methods to detect surface changes by geomorphic process dynamics within a natural environment. Both UAV and TLS show the pattern of the erosion and accumulation processes on the investigated slope quite well, but the calculated amounts differ clearly between the methods. The reasons for these differences could be found in the different accuracies (variable level of detections) of the methods and the different viewing geometries. Both effects have an impact on the detectable process dynamics over different timescales on the slope and their calculated amounts, which in both cases can lead to an underestimation of erosion and accumulation by fluvial processes.

Reactivation of hydrological dynamics is an essential part within restoration projects especially on floodplains. Frequently, oxbows are reconnected or former flood channels are supplied with water again. This can be accomplished for example by lowering spillway weirs, slit dams or widening of passages. In highly developed areas with various stakeholder interests and different types of land use the floodplain often is connected with the river via controllable sluices. This contribution explains the importance of a controlled water management of sluice gates for the interplay between river and an artificially connected floodplain. First results of the hydrological monitoring can be achieved by the interpretation of hydrographs and ground water levels as well as mapping surveys of flooded areas with a GPS. The functionality and effectiveness of restoration measures implemented in the research area on the Upper Danube between Neuburg and Ingolstadt are assessed and discussed. It is possible to point out that the different types of land use (forestry, nature conservation, water management and hydropower) within a river and its adjacent floodplain can only be brought together by an optimized control of the restoration measures themselves. The possibilities and constraints of an optimum discharge control, the major objective of this research, are discussed. Zusammenfassung: Im Rahmen von Renaturierungsprojekten in Auen kommt der Reaktivierung der Wasserstandsdynamik eine entscheidende Bedeutung zu. Nicht selten werden Altarme wieder angeschlossen oder ehemalige Flutrinnen wieder mit Wasser versorgt. Dies kann z.B. durch Absenkung von Überlaufschwellen, Dammschlitzungen oder Aufweitung von Durchlässen erfolgen. In Gebieten mit hoher Siedlungsdichte und diversen Nutzungsinteressen kann die Aue über steuerbare Bauwerke wieder an den Fluss gekoppelt werden. Wie wichtig das Management von Abflüssen bei steuerbaren Ausleitungsmengen ist, zeigt der vorliegende Beitrag. Hierbei werden über die Interpretation von Wasserstandsganglinien und Grundwasserständen an unterschiedlichen Auengewässern und über eine flächenhafte Kartierung von Überflutungsflächen mit GPS erste Rückschlüsse auf die Funktionalität und Effektivität von den im Untersuchungsgebiet der südlichen Donauauen zwischen Neuburg und Ingolstadt durchgeführten Renaturierungsmaßnahmen gezogen. Dabei zeigt sich, dass sich die vielfältigen konkurrierenden Nutzungen (Forstwirtschaft, Naturschutz, Wasserwirtschaft und Energieerzeugung aus Wasserkraft) an einem Fluss und seiner angrenzenden Aue nur durch eine optimierte Steuerung der Renaturierungsmaßnahmen vereinen lassen. Die Möglichkeiten und Beschränkungen einer optimalen Steuerung des Abflusses, das wesentliche Ziel der Untersuchung, werden beschrieben.

Abstract. This study aims on the quantification and analysis of geomorphic processes on the barely vegetated slopes of a recultivated iron ore mine on the Italian island Elba using Terrestrial Lasercanning (TLS) and digital photogrammetry by UAV photographs over a period of 5 1/2 years. Beside this the study tried to work out the potential and the limitations of both methods to detect surface changes by geomorphic process dynamic within a natural environment. Both, UAV and TLS show the pattern of the erosion and accumulation processes on the investigated slope quite well, but the calculated amounts differ clearly between the methods. The reasons for these differences could be found in the different accuracies (variable level of detections) of the methods and the different viewing geometries. Both effects have an impact on the detectable process dynamic over different time scales on the slope and their calculated amounts, which in both cases can lead to an underestimation of erosion and accumulation by fluvial processes.