Mapping the potential distribution of frozen ground in Tucarroya (Monte Perdido Massif, the Pyrenees)

Abstract

This paper shows the creation of a map of frozen ground potential for the Tucarroya valley in Ordesa National Park. To create this map, it was necessary to combine the identified landforms associated to the presence of frozen ground by fieldwork, ground temperature data continuously recorded during two years by automatic loggers, a Basal Temperature of Snow (BTS) survey, and predictor variables derived from a high resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Four environments have been differentiated: unfrozen ground, seasonal frozen ground, possible permafrost and probable permafrost. The map confirms a very limited variety and extension of permafrost, above 2700 m a.s.l. on gentle and shadowed slopes. Seasonal frozen ground is the most common thermal regime, as it can be developed above 2500 m a.s.l. Snow-pack duration and thickness tightly control the duration of frozen ground and the freezing-thawing cycles. Frost activity and unfrozen ground is restricted from 2570 to 2750 m a.s.l.

Neoglaciation in the Spanish Pyrenees: a multiproxy challenge

“…The recent evolution of the Pyrenean glaciers (Rico et al 2017) is the most evident sign of other highly significant changes affecting fluvial regimes (López-Moreno and García-Ruiz 2004), sediment transfer (Lana-Renault et al 2011) and plant cover redistribution (Pauli et al 2012) in mountain areas. In addition, the thinning of the Pyrenean active rock glaciers is another symptom of the recent warming, together with spatial shrinkage of the frozen ground distribution in the highest Pyrenean massifs (Serrano et al 2020).…”

Application of the Q-Slope Empirical Approach for Slope Stability Assessment of Spanish Mountain Roads in Winter—Combining Remote Techniques with Virtual Reality

“…These comments and references have been incorporated at the beginning of the "study site" section: The study of permafrost and the conditions of mountain slopes with ice has already been studied in the area of the Pyrenees and the Spanish high mountains but with a more geographical focus than a slope engineering one [13,14]. The contribution of the empirical analysis is novel, and that is why ski resorts have been chosen due to the obvious impact of winter on society.…”