Rock Glacier Activity in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania

Vespremeanu‐Stroe, Alfred; Urdea, Petru; Popescu, Răzvan; Matei, Vasile

doi:10.1002/ppp.1736

Cited by 32 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…A similar approach combined with ground temperature monitoring of several rock glaciers from the Retezat Mountains has since confirmed the permafrost occurrence in some cases (Vespremeanu‐Stroe et al . ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Internal structure and permafrost characteristics of the rock glaciers of southern carpathians (romania) assessed by geoelectrical soundings and thermal monitoring

Onaca

Urdea

Ardelean

2013

Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography

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Six rock glaciers in the Southern Carpathians have been investigated by means of geoelectrical soundings in order to detect their internal stratigraphy and the existence of frozen sediments. In the case of three relict rock glaciers, the electrical resistivity measurements indicated a typical internal structure. Low resistivity values (<10 kΩm) which are typical of unfrozen fine‐grained materials were obtained, but high resistivity values (25–240 kΩm) measured in the Pietroasa, Ieşu and Pietrele rock glaciers denote the presence of sediments cemented by interstitial ice and ice lenses. Based on the moderate resistivity values, the ice content is probably low to medium in the upper portion of these rock glaciers, that is, above 2040 m. At two sites (Pietroasa and Văiuga rock glaciers), ground surface temperature (GST) evolution was monitored using digital dataloggers. Mean annual ground surface temperature and GST regime throughout the winter were extracted from the recordings and confirmed the probability of permafrost occurrence in Pietroasa rock glacier. In the Ieşu and Pietrele rock glaciers, measurements of bottom temperatures of the winter snow cover were performed in March 2012. Considering the thick active layer, the reduced ice content and the presence of scarce vegetation on their surface it could be assumed that the permafrost exists in marginal conditions in the Southern Carpathians. The ground ice in permafrost is produced by the groundwater freezing or by snow banks buried by coarse angular boulders following large rockfalls.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Internal structure and permafrost characteristics of the rock glaciers of southern carpathians (romania) assessed by geoelectrical soundings and thermal monitoring

Onaca

Urdea

Ardelean

2013

Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography

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“…Another important factor controlling the water balance of the alpine lakes seems to be the permafrost occurrence, recently documented in several rock glaciers by geophysical and thermal measurements (Vespremeanu et al, 2012;Onaca, 2013;Onaca et al, 2013Onaca et al, , 2015. In some cases, springs are seeping from the base of the rock glacier fronts fueling the nearby glacial lakes (e.g., Galeșul, Tăul Valea Rea, Valea Rea 4, Pietricelele), but sub-surface flow originating from rock glaciers contribute also to the water balance of the alpine lakes (Clark, 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent morphodynamics of alpine lakes in Southern Carpathian Mountains using high-resolution optical imagery

Necsoiu

Mîndrescu

Onaca

et al. 2016

Quaternary International

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This study reveals for the first time the surface area evolution of glacial lakes in the Romanian Carpathians over 47 years. The research also advances our understanding in the potential of satellite-based remote sensing techniques to monitor geomorphologic evolution of 27 rock basins turned into glacial lakes in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Romanian Carpathians. These mountains host most of the glacial lakes in Romania, including both the widest and deepest glacial lakes. Using high-precision orthorectification and co-registration techniques, the surface area extension and reduction of 27 shallow water bodies ranging in size from 0.10 to 9.14 ha was analyzed over two time intervals (1968-2007 and 2007-2014). The total surface area increased only by 1% between 1968 and 2014, with over half of the growth occurring during the last 7 years of the study period. Analysis of the surface area extension and reduction revealed that catchment aspect, catchment size, lake elevation, landcover, topography, and lake depth are the main environmental factors controlling the present state of the glacial lakes in the central part of the Retezat Mountains. The results suggest that the different behavior of glacial lakes within the north-facing valleys compared with the evolution of the lakes settled in southern exposed valleys is mainly due to climatic and geomorphologic particularities of the opposing slopes. On the northern side the lakes are slowly decreasing due to more intense geomorphologic activity of both the erosivity of precipitations and periglacial processes (e.g., gelifraction, mass wasting, and permafrost degradation). High altitude lakes generally are increasing because of the longer duration of the ice cover and the smaller amounts of sediment yielded

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“…Two sets of Maxim ibutton temperature loggers model 1922G were attached to small wooden stakes; these temperature loggers have an accuracy of ±0.5°C and have been extensively used in remote field environments (Gubler et al ., ; Vespremeanu‐Stroe et al ., ). One logger was attached at a height of 5 cm above the ground surface to measure surface air temperature and these were protected from the elements by hoods made of plastic pots.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Contemporary Sorted Patterned Ground in Low Altitude Areas of Tasmania

Slee

Kiernan²,

Shulmeister

2015

Geographical Research

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This paper summarises the distribution of patterned ground phenomena in Tasmania. It presents observations of low altitude sorted stone circles forming on glacial and alluvial deposits in the vicinity of Queenstown, Western Tasmania. Evidence suggests that freeze-thaw derived patterned ground could develop in most inland valleys in Tasmania where cold air drainage causes sub-zero ground temperatures in winter and permits the formation of ground and segregation ice to low elevations. Field observations suggest that patterned ground can only develop where freeze-thaw processes are not inhibited by vegetation. The occurrence of patterned ground below altitudes of 900 m asl in Tasmania is largely a result of anthropogenic disturbance.

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Rock Glacier Activity in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania

Cited by 32 publications

References 30 publications

Internal structure and permafrost characteristics of the rock glaciers of southern carpathians (romania) assessed by geoelectrical soundings and thermal monitoring

Internal structure and permafrost characteristics of the rock glaciers of southern carpathians (romania) assessed by geoelectrical soundings and thermal monitoring

Recent morphodynamics of alpine lakes in Southern Carpathian Mountains using high-resolution optical imagery

Contemporary Sorted Patterned Ground in Low Altitude Areas of Tasmania

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