La construction du risque au prisme territorial : dans l'ombre de l'archétype alpin, les avalanches oubliées de moyenne montagne

Giacona, Florie; Eckert, Nicolas; Martin, Brice

doi:10.1051/nss/2017025

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…They are generally associated with an imagery and landscape that contrast with the idea of massive avalanches: a mountain range on a human scale, described using a lexicon that conveys softness, accessibility and friendliness (Giacona et al, 2017a). Their dimensions are small, with a compact shape: 7300 km 2 , 1423 m a.s.l.…”

Section: Description Of the Territorial Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), natural processes (seasonal snow cover only versus glaciers) or practices (everyday living space versus marked seasonal rhythm associated with tourism). Medium-high mountains are finally characterised by the combination of a humanised mountain (everyday living space and possessing a rich cultural heritage) and preserved wilderness areas (Sgard et al, 2007;Giacona et al, 2017a). Beyond France, it might be fair to say that, apart from exceptions (e.g.…”

Section: Comparison With Other Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A 240-year history of avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains based on non-conventional (re)sources

Giacona

Eckert

Martin

2017

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Despite the strong societal impact of mountain risks, their systematic documentation remains poor. Therefore, snow avalanche chronologies exceeding several decades are exceptional, especially in medium-high mountain ranges. This article implements a combination of historical and geographical methods leading to the reconstruction, at the scale of the entire Vosges Mountains (north-east of France), of more than 700 avalanches that have occurred since the late eighteenth century on 128 paths. The clearly episodic nature of the derived geo-chronology can be explained by three interrelated factors that have changed together over time: the body and reliability of sources, social practices conditioning the vulnerability and the natural hazard itself. Finally, the geo-chronology reflects the changes in the meaning of the hazard in social space. Specifically, the event which could be retrieved from the historical sources is an aspect of the interaction between society and its environment. These results confirm the role of the historian in contextualising and evaluating such data. It transforms these data into information that is relevant for mitigating risk and understanding its change over time. The work also demonstrates the usefulness of constructing an original database from a diverse suite of historical data and field investigations. This approach could be applied to other risk phenomena in the frequent situation in which archival data are sparse.

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Section: Description Of the Territorial Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Comparison With Other Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 240-year history of avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains based on non-conventional (re)sources

Giacona

Eckert

Martin

2017

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…For the three probable paths, only visible marks of avalanche activity were identified in the field, but no mention of past events was found in historical sources. Intensity levels allow rating individual avalanche events on the scale provided by Giacona and others (2017a, b) introduced in the text.…”

Section: Vosges Mountains and Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aerial photographs have an optimal resolution, but have been available over the last few decades only, whereas historical maps have a coarser resolution but are available for the entire study period. Finally, constructed on the Giacona and others (2017a, b) inventory, refined geo-historical analyses are used to map avalanche activity in the Rothenbachkopf-Rainkopf complex and its interaction over time with human activities and forests. These include exploitation of various sources of historical archives, topographic surveys and field identification of visible marks of avalanche activity in tree stands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avalanche activity and socio-environmental changes leave strong footprints in forested landscapes: a case study in the Vosges medium-high mountain range

et al. 2018

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The medium-high mountain ranges of Western Europe are undergoing rapid socio-environmental changes. The aim of this study is to show that their landscape can be strongly shaped by the actions of avalanche activity, humans and climate. The study area is the Rothenbachkopf-Rainkopf complex, a site representative of avalanche-prone areas of the Vosges Mountains (France). A geo-historical approach documents regular avalanche activity over more than 200 years on 13 paths. A diachronic analysis of historical maps and photographs demonstrates substantial afforestation (from 60 to 80% of the total surface since 1832). LIDAR data and field surveys highlight the existence of a longitudinal and transversal structure of trees. Hence, the avalanche, human and climate activity footprints are retained by the landscape, which rapidly adapts to these changing drivers. Specifically, the pattern of tree species and heights results from a near equilibrium with regular avalanche activity sometimes disturbed by major avalanches that induce quasi-cyclic changes in the landscape mosaic. The afforestation trend is attributable to profound changes in silvo-pastoral practices, supplemented by the impact of climate change. The wider relevance of the results in relation to the local context is discussed, as well as outlooks that can refine our understanding of this complex system.

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“…La haute montagne se pose, en outre, comme laboratoire d'étude privilégié en matière de risque d'avalanche. Dans ce contexte, les espaces de moyenne montagne, pourtant également concernés par le phénomène avalanche et le risque associé, sont, au contraire, délaissés tant par les gestionnaires que par les politiques et les scientifiques (Giacona et al, 2017a).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Les discours médiatiques favorisent-ils l’émergence du risque d’avalanche en moyenne montagne ? L’exemple du Massif vosgien : entre ignorance et minimisation

Giacona¹,

Martin²,

Eckert³

2017

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La construction du risque au prisme territorial : dans l'ombre de l'archétype alpin, les avalanches oubliées de moyenne montagne

Abstract: les économies, les sociétés, les arts et les techniques

Cited by 12 publications

References 13 publications

A 240-year history of avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains based on non-conventional (re)sources

A 240-year history of avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains based on non-conventional (re)sources

Avalanche activity and socio-environmental changes leave strong footprints in forested landscapes: a case study in the Vosges medium-high mountain range

Les discours médiatiques favorisent-ils l’émergence du risque d’avalanche en moyenne montagne ? L’exemple du Massif vosgien : entre ignorance et minimisation

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