Monitoring of periglacial phenomena in the furggentälti Swiss Alps

Abstract

A monitoring system for periglacial phenomena has been installed in the Furggentälti (Gemmi) Swiss Alps in the framework of geomorphological field studies aimed at the instruction of students. Various periglacial landforms and processes can be observed in an area of about 1 km2. The research layout includes a survey station for soil and air temperatures, a geodetic surveying triangulation network of a solifluction lobe, and photogrammetric analysis of the soil frost pattern dynamics (stone rings) and a small rock glacier. Geophysical explorations (geoelectric and seismic refraction) and BTS measurements are undertaken on the rock glacier; these measurements have ascertained the presence of permafrost. The temperature survey station records values at levels between 1 m beneath the surface and 1.5 m above the surface; this allows correlation between displacement values of the solifluction lobe and the soil temperatures.

Pebbly versus bouldery rock glaciers: Morphology, structure and processes

“…In contrast, rounded frontal edge of pebbly rock glaciers indicates solifluction or other soil transport in the matrix-supported layer. In addition, solifluction lobes develop from the side of a pebbly rock glacier in the Furggentälti, Swiss Alps (Krummenacher and Budmigner, 1992), and patterned ground occurs on some pebbly rock glaciers in the Brooks Range, Alaska (Calkin et al, 1987). Such a soil movement may gradually decrease the thickness of pebbly rock glaciers.…”

Downslope displacement rates of ploughing boulders in a mid‐alpine environment: finse, southern norway.

“…Although a simulation of the geodetic network predicts a higher potential accuracy when distance measurements are incorporated, angle measurements only, to a rigid target, could provide higher accuracy. Krummenacher and Budmiger (1992) achieved significance of displacements down to 1.5 mm, using this method.…”

Soil Moisture Data for the Validation of Permafrost Models Using Direct and Indirect Measurement Approaches at Three Alpine Sites

“…Measurements in the Furggentälti valley are focused on the dynamic of these two landforms and comprise repeated GPS campaigns on the rock glacier, an automatic Frontiers in Earth Science | www.frontiersin.orgcamera installed in 1993 for the rock glacier monitoring and the application of photogrammetric analyses since 1990. Additionally a vertical temperature profile measuring down to 1 m depth was already installed in 1988 on the solifluction lobe (Krummenacher and Budmiger, 1992). Two weather stations were installed in 1999 and 2000 on the solifluction lobe and on the rock glacier, respectively.…”