Recent interannual variations of rock glacier creep in the European Alps

Delaloye, Reynald; Perruchoud, Eric; Avian, Michael; Kaufmann,; Bodin, Xavier; Hausmann, Helmut; Ikeda, Atsushi; Kääb, Andreas; Kellerer‐Pirklbauer, Andreas; Krainer, Karl; Lambiel, Christophe; Mihajlović, Domagoj; Staub, Benno; Roer, I.; Thibert, Emmanuel

doi:10.5167/uzh-7031

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…However, interannual variations in rock glacier velocities often cannot be explained with variations in mean annual or summer air temperatures alone. This indicates a multifaceted and scale-dependent relationship between climate forcing and rock glacier response (Delaloye et al, 2008(Delaloye et al, , 2010Sorg et al, 2015;Hartl et al, 2016b;Kellerer-Pirklbauer et al, 2017;Müller et al, 2016;Cicoira et al, 2019a;Fleischer et al, 2021). Sub-seasonal monitoring of rock glacier movement has shown correlations between short-term velocity fluctuations and water input from snowmelt or precipitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…They are widespread features of the mountain cryosphere and serve as proxies for former and current permafrost occurrence, play an important role in the hydrological system, and form part of the sediment cascade (Wahrhaftig and Cox, 1959;Barsch, 1996;Haeberli et al, 2006;RGIK, 2022). Rock glacier kinematics have increasingly become of interest during approximately the last 2 decades due to accelerated movement at many rock glaciers in the Alps and in creeping subarctic permafrost (Roer, 2005;Delaloye et al, 2008Delaloye et al, , 2010Daanen et al, 2012;Kellerer-Pirklbauer et al, 2018;Fleischer et al, 2021). These general trends are broadly attributed to rising air and ground temperatures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi-sensor monitoring and data integration reveal cyclical destabilization of the Äußeres Hochebenkar rock glacier

et al. 2023

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Abstract. This study investigates rock glacier destabilization based on the results of a unique in situ and remote-sensing-based monitoring network focused on the kinematics of the rock glacier in Äußeres Hochebenkar (Austrian Alps). We consolidate, homogenize, and extend existing time series to generate a comprehensive dataset consisting of 14 digital surface models covering a 68-year time period, as well as in situ measurements of block displacement since the early 1950s. The digital surface models are derived from historical aerial imagery and, more recently, airborne and uncrewed-aerial-vehicle-based laser scanning (ALS and ULS, respectively). High-resolution 3D ALS and ULS point clouds are available at annual temporal resolution from 2017 to 2021. Additional terrestrial laser scanning data collected in bi-weekly intervals during the summer of 2019 are available from the rock glacier front. Using image correlation techniques, we derive velocity vectors from the digital surface models, thereby adding rock-glacier-wide spatial context to the point-scale block displacement measurements. Based on velocities, surface elevation changes, analyses of morphological features, and computations of the bulk creep factor and strain rates, we assess the combined datasets in terms of rock glacier destabilization. To additionally investigate potential rotational components of the movement of the destabilized section of the rock glacier, we integrate in situ data of block displacement with ULS point clouds and compute changes in the rotation angles of single blocks during recent years. The time series shows two cycles of destabilization in the lower section of the rock glacier. The first lasted from the early 1950s until the mid-1970s. The second began around 2017 after approximately 2 decades of more gradual acceleration and is currently ongoing. Both destabilization periods are characterized by high velocities and the development of morphological destabilization features on the rock glacier surface. Acceleration in the most recent years has been very pronounced, with velocities reaching 20–30 m a−1 in 2020–2021. These values are unprecedented in the time series and suggest highly destabilized conditions in the lower section of the rock glacier, which shows signs of translational and rotational landslide-like movement. Due to the length and granularity of the time series, the cyclic destabilization process at the Äußeres Hochebenkar rock glacier is well resolved in the dataset. Our study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary, long-term, and continuous high-resolution 3D monitoring to improve process understanding and model development related to rock glacier rheology and destabilization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-sensor monitoring and data integration reveal cyclical destabilization of the Äußeres Hochebenkar rock glacier

et al. 2023

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Rock glaciers throughout the French Alps accelerated and destabilised since 1990 as air temperatures increased

Marcer

Cicoira

Cusicanqui

et al. 2021

Commun Earth Environ

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Rock glaciers—ice-rich creeping landforms typical of permafrost mountain ranges—can develop an anomalous landslide-like behaviour called destabilisation. This behaviour is characterised by failure mechanisms (including cracks and crevasses) and increases in displacement rates by one to two orders of magnitude. Existing studies of this phenomenon have been limited to a small number of landforms and short time spans. Here, we systematically investigate the evolution of rock glacier kinematics over the past seven decades for the entire French Alps by combining observations of landform features indicative of the onset of destabilisation with data on displacements rates using aerial orthoimagery. We show that rock glacier velocities have significantly increased since the 1990s, concurrent with the development of destabilisation in 18 landforms that represent 5% of the 337 active rock glaciers. This pattern of activity correlates with rising air temperatures in the region, which suggests that a warming climate may play a role in this process.

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Periglacial Environment and Landscape Dynamics of the Swiss Alps

Matsuoka¹,

Ikeda²

2011

J. Geogr.

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Spacio-temporal variability of contemporary periglacial environments in the Swiss Alps is summarized on the basis of 15 years of field observations of rock weathering, permafrost creep, and soil movements, as well as other recent studies. Diurnal and annual freeze-thaw cycles loosen wet rock joints, which subsequently produce rockfalls. A large episodic rockfall can temporarily raise the rate of rockwall retreat. Rock debris derived from different parent rocks controls the types of rock glacier having different compositions, thermal characteristics, and dynamics. Some rock glaciers at the lower limit of permafrost are accelerating due to intensified mobility, but they may eventually become inactive because of permafrost thawing and the lack of debris supply. On slopes mantled with fine debris, small-scale stripes and lobes tend to develop on the upper part due to thin debris and good drainage, whereas larger scale lobes increase downslope as a result of thicker debris, poor drainage, and gentler slopes. The former mainly responds to shallow diurnal freeze-thaw cycles, whereas the latter reflects frost heave and gelifluction during deeper annual freezing-thawing. A prolonged supply of meltwater further triggers rapid mudflows superimposed on slow solifluction. Climate warming may decrease periglacial activity in seasonal frost areas, whereas in marginal permafrost areas it promotes permafrost warming that temporarily accelerates permafrost creep and/or permafrost thawing that possibly triggers large rockfalls and debris flows.

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Recent interannual variations of rock glacier creep in the European Alps

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

Multi-sensor monitoring and data integration reveal cyclical destabilization of the Äußeres Hochebenkar rock glacier

Multi-sensor monitoring and data integration reveal cyclical destabilization of the Äußeres Hochebenkar rock glacier

Rock glaciers throughout the French Alps accelerated and destabilised since 1990 as air temperatures increased

Periglacial Environment and Landscape Dynamics of the Swiss Alps

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