Permafrost investigation in the Schilthorn massif, Bernese Alps, Switzerland

Imhof, Markus O.; Pierrehumbert, Gilles; Haeberli, Wilfried; Kienholz, Hans

doi:10.1002/1099-1530(200007/09)11:3<189::aid-ppp348>3.3.co;2-e

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Certain studies have found that Haeberli's criteria can be appropriate for detecting permafrost (Hoelzle, Haeberli, & Keller, ; Isaksen et al, ; Langston et al, ). However, they must be considered as relative indicators with an associated degree of uncertainty, and they do not necessarily indicate the presence or absence of ground ice, as other factors can affect the BTS (Brenning, Gruber, & Hoelzle, ; Imhof, Pierrehumbert, Haeberli, & Kienholz, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater flow and storage processes in an inactive rock glacier

Harrington

Mozil

Bentley

2018

Hydrological Processes

103

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Groundwater flow through coarse blocky landforms contributes to streamflow in mountain watersheds, yet its role in the alpine hydrologic cycle has received relatively little attention. This study examines the internal structure and hydrogeological characteristics of an inactive rock glacier in the Canadian Rockies using geophysical imaging techniques, analysis of the discharge hydrograph of the spring draining the rock glacier, and chemical and stable isotopic compositions of source waters. The results

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater flow and storage processes in an inactive rock glacier

Harrington

Mozil

Bentley

2018

Hydrological Processes

103

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“…This study concentrates on two extensively explored and well‐instrumented high mountain permafrost sites in Switzerland (Figure ): the Schilthorn summit in the Bernese Alps [ Imhof et al ., ; Hilbich et al ., ; Scherler et al ., ] and the Murtèl‐Corvatsch rock glacier in the Upper Engadine [ Haeberli et al ., ; Hoelzle et al ., ; Hilbich et al ., ]. Both sites are part of the Swiss monitoring program PERMOS [ PERMOS , ] and had been included in the European PACE project (1998–2001) [ Harris et al ., ].…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Modeled sensitivity of two alpine permafrost sites to RCM‐based climate scenarios

et al. 2013

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[1] Climate change as projected by contemporary general circulation models (GCMs) and regional climate models (RCMs) will have a great impact on high latitude and high mountain permafrost. A process-based one-dimensional permafrost model is used to evaluate the sensitivity of two characteristic alpine permafrost sites to changes in climate for a 110 year time period starting 1991 and ending 2100 using output time series of six different GCM-RCM model chains. Statistical analysis of the RCM climate variables and output of the impact model has been conducted to gain insight into the sensitivity of the active layer to changes in climatic conditions. Strong sensitivity to climate change was found for the active layer thickness (ALT) at Schilthorn, which increased by up to 100% before most of the models pointed to a degradation of the permafrost around the year 2020. The sensitivity of the ALT at the rock glacier site Murtèl is less pronounced; permafrost degradation is slower and sets in only around 2070. At both sites, the thermal evolution is linked to an increase in unfrozen water content within the permafrost body. Multiple linear regression analysis shows a strong model dependency of ALT on ice content and summer soil surface temperatures and to a less significant degree on snow cover timing and duration. The ALT at Schilthorn is influenced by the ALT of the preceding year, while at Murtèl, the ALT is influenced by the ALT of up to 15 preceding years.

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“…Permafrost is linked to the atmosphere by the intervening active layer, vegetation, and snow cover, which vary strongly with time and location [ Romanovsky and Osterkamp , 1995]. Variable snow cover, especially in early winter, exerts an important influence on ground temperatures [e.g., Smith , 1975; Goodrich , 1982; Vonder Mühll et al , 1998; Imhof et al , 2000; Zhang , 2005]. Circulation of water and air within coarse blocks in typical steep Alpine slopes may result in highly variable and sometimes extreme thermal offsets [e.g., Hoelzle et al , 2001].…”

Section: Research Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent warming of mountain permafrost in Svalbard and Scandinavia

et al. 2007

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[1] Three deep boreholes (!100 m) in mountain permafrost were recently drilled in Svalbard (Janssonhaugen) and in Scandinavia (Tarfalaryggen and Juvvasshøe) for longterm permafrost monitoring. These holes form part of a latitudinal transect of boreholes in permafrost through Europe, established by the Permafrost and Climate in Europe (PACE) project. Six-year thermal time series data collected from the three boreholes are presented. These data provide the first opportunity for temporal trends in permafrost temperatures in Svalbard and Scandinavia to be analyzed. Results show that the permafrost has warmed considerably at all three sites. Significant warming is detectable down to at least 60 m depth, and present decadal warming rates at the permafrost surface are on the order of 0.04°-0.07°C yr À1 , with greatest warming in Svalbard and in northern Scandinavia. The present regional trend shows accelerated warming during the last decade.

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Permafrost investigation in the Schilthorn massif, Bernese Alps, Switzerland

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Groundwater flow and storage processes in an inactive rock glacier

Groundwater flow and storage processes in an inactive rock glacier

Modeled sensitivity of two alpine permafrost sites to RCM‐based climate scenarios

Recent warming of mountain permafrost in Svalbard and Scandinavia

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