Factors Controlling Velocity Variations at Short-Term, Seasonal and Multiyear Time Scales, Ritigraben Rock Glacier, Western Swiss Alps

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 675-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kenner ◽  
Marcia Phillips ◽  
Jan Beutel ◽  
Martin Hiller ◽  
Philippe Limpach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Velocity Variations ◽  
Western Swiss Alps

scholarly journals Short-term velocity variations at three rock glaciers and their relationship with meteorological conditions

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Wirz ◽  
S. Gruber ◽  
R. S. Purves ◽  
J. Beutel ◽  
I. Gärtner-Roer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Rock Glaciers ◽  
Velocity Variations

Abstract. In recent years, strong variations in the speed of rock glaciers have been detected, raising questions about their stability under changing climatic conditions. In this study, we present continuous time series of surface velocities over 3 years of six GPS stations located on three rock glaciers in Switzerland. Intra-annual velocity variations are analysed in relation to local meteorological factors, such as precipitation, snow(melt), and air and ground surface temperatures. The main focus of this study lies on the abrupt velocity peaks, which have been detected at two steep and fast-moving rock glacier tongues ( ≥  5 m a−1), and relationships to external meteorological forcing are statistically tested.The continuous measurements with high temporal resolution allowed us to detect short-term velocity peaks, which occur outside cold winter conditions, at these two rock glacier tongues. Our measurements further revealed that all rock glaciers experience clear intra-annual variations in movement in which the timing and the amplitude is reasonably similar in individual years. The seasonal decrease in velocity was typically smooth, starting 1–3 months after the seasonal decrease in temperatures, and was stronger in years with colder temperatures in mid winter. Seasonal acceleration was mostly abrupt and rapid compared to the winter deceleration, always starting during the zero curtain period. We found a statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of short-term velocity peaks and water input from heavy precipitation or snowmelt, while no velocity peak could be attributed solely to high temperatures. The findings of this study further suggest that, in addition to the short-term velocity peaks, the seasonal acceleration is also influenced by water infiltration, causing thermal advection and an increase in pore water pressure. In contrast, the amount of deceleration in winter seems to be mainly controlled by winter temperatures.

Monitoring mass movements using georeferenced time-lapse photography: Ritigraben rock glacier, western Swiss Alps

2018 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kenner ◽  
Marcia Phillips ◽  
Philippe Limpach ◽  
Jan Beutel ◽  
Martin Hiller
Keyword(s):  
Time Lapse ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Western Swiss Alps ◽  
Time Lapse Photography

scholarly journals Verification of geophysical models in Alpine permafrost using borehole information

2000 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 300-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel S. Vonder Mühll ◽  
Christian Hauck ◽  
Frank Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Surface Microtopography ◽  
Refraction Seismics ◽  
Geophysical Surveys ◽  
Ground Conditions ◽  
Lateral Extent ◽  
Ice Content ◽  
Difficult Terrain

AbstractAt two permafrost sites in the Swiss Alps a range of geophysical methods were applied to model the structure of the subsurface. At both sites, borehole information was used to verify the quality of the model results. On the Murtèl-Corvatsch rock glacier (2700 m a.s.L; upper Engadine) a 58 m deep core drilling was performed in 1987. D. c resistivity measurements, refraction seismics, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and gravimetric surveys allowed the shape of the permafrost table beneath the marked surface microtopography to be determined and the lateral extent of a deeper shear horizon to be established The validity of each method was verified by the borehole information (cores, density log and temperature). A coherent model of the rock-glacier structure was developed. At the Schilthorn (2970 m a.s.L; Bernese Oberland), it was not clear whether permafrost is in fact present. Various geophysical surveys (d.c. resistivity tomography, refraction seismics, GPR and EM-31) gave results that were not typical of permafrost environments. A 14 m percussion drilling revealed warm permafrost and a very low ice content. These geotechnical and geothermal data allowed reinterpretation of the geophysical results, improving modelling of ground conditions. The paper demonstrates that in the difficult terrain of Alpine permafrost, boreholes may be critical in calibration and verification of the results of geophysical methods. The most useful combinations of geophysical techniques proved to be (a) seismics with d.c. resistivity, and (b) gravimetry with GPR.

scholarly journals Multiscale Very-High Resolution Topographic Models in Alpine Ecology: Pros and Cons of Airborne LiDAR and Drone-Based Stereo-Photogrammetry Technologies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie S. Guillaume ◽  
Kevin Leempoel ◽  
Estelle Rochat ◽  
Aude Rogivue ◽  
Michel Kasser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Distribution Modelling ◽  
Airborne Lidar ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Stereo Photogrammetry ◽  
Arabis Alpina ◽  
Western Swiss Alps ◽  
Very High

The vulnerability of alpine environments to climate change presses an urgent need to accurately model and understand these ecosystems. Popularity in use of digital elevation models (DEMs) to derive proxy environmental variables has increased over the past decade, particularly as DEMs are relatively cheaply acquired at very high resolutions (VHR; <1m spatial resolution). Here, we implement a multiscale framework and compare DEM-derived variables produced by Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and stereo-photogrammetry (PHOTO) methods, with the aims of assessing their relevance and utility in species distribution modelling (SDM). Using a case study on the arctic-alpine plant Arabis alpina in two valleys in the western Swiss Alps, we show that both LiDAR and PHOTO technologies can be relevant for producing DEM-derived variables for use in SDMs. We demonstrate that PHOTO DEMs rivalled the accuracy of LiDAR, putting the current paradigm of LiDAR being the more accurate of the two methods into question. We obtained DEMs at spatial resolutions of 6.25cm-8m for PHOTO and 50cm-32m for LiDAR, where we determined that the optimal spatial resolutions of DEM-derived variables in SDM were between 1 and 32m, depending on the variable and site characteristics. We found that the reduced extent of PHOTO DEMs altered the calculations of all derived variables, which had particular consequences on their relevance at the site with heterogenous terrain. However, for the homogenous site, we found that SDMs based on PHOTO-derived variables generally had higher predictive powers than those derived from LiDAR at matching resolutions. From our results, we recommend carefully considering the required DEM extent to produce relevant derived variables. We also advocate implementing a multiscale framework to appropriately assess the ecological relevance of derived variables, where we caution against the use of VHR-DEMs finer than 50cm in such studies.

scholarly journals How Predictable Are the Arctic and North Atlantic Oscillations? Exploring the Variability and Predictability of the Northern Hemisphere

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 997-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela I. V. Domeisen ◽  
Gualtiero Badin ◽  
Inga M. Koszalka
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ensemble Prediction ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic Oscillation

ABSTRACT The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) describe the dominant part of the variability in the Northern Hemisphere extratropical troposphere. Because of the strong connection of these patterns with surface climate, recent years have shown an increased interest and an increasing skill in forecasting them. However, it is unclear what the intrinsic limits of short-term predictability for the NAO and AO patterns are. This study compares the variability and predictability of both patterns, using a range of data and index computation methods for the daily NAO and AO indices. Small deviations from Gaussianity are found along with characteristic decorrelation time scales of around one week. In the analysis of the Lyapunov spectrum it is found that predictability is not significantly different between the AO and NAO or between reanalysis products. Differences exist, however, between the indices based on EOF analysis, which exhibit predictability time scales around 12–16 days, and the station-based indices, exhibiting a longer predictability of 18–20 days. Both of these time scales indicate predictability beyond that currently obtained in ensemble prediction models for short-term predictability. Additional longer-term predictability for these patterns may be gained through local feedbacks and remote forcing mechanisms for particular atmospheric conditions.

Reconstruction of the dynamics and origin of rock glaciers in an Alpine environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Lehmann ◽  
Robert S. Anderson ◽  
Xavier Bodin ◽  
Pierre G. Valla ◽  
Julien Carcaillet
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Alpine Environment ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Rock Glaciers ◽  
Alpine Environments ◽  
Alpine Valleys

<p>Rock glaciers are one of the most frequent cryospheric landform in mid-latitude mountain ranges. They influence the evolution of alpine environments on short (years to decades) and long (centuries to millennia) time scales. As a visible expression of mountain permafrost [1] as well as an important water reserve in the form of ground ice [2], rock glaciers are seen as increasingly important in the evolution of geomorphology and hydrology of mountain systems in the context of climate change and deglaciation [3, 4]. On longer time scales, rock glaciers transport boulders produced by the erosion of the headwall upstream and downstream and therefore participate in shaping mountain slopes [5]. Despite their importance, the dynamics and origin of rock glaciers are poorly understood.</p><p>In this study, we propose to address two questions:</p><p>1) How does the dynamics of rock glaciers change over time?</p><p>2) What is the origin of rock glaciers and what is their influence on the evolution of alpine environments?</p><p>These two questions require an evaluation of the surface velocity field of rock glaciers by relating short and long time scales. To solve this problem, we combine complementary methods including remote sensing, geochronology with a mechanical model of rock glacier dynamics. We apply this approach to the rock glacier complex of the Vallon de la Route in the Massif du Combeynot (French alps).</p><p>In order to reconstruct the displacement field of the rock glacier on modern time scales, we used remote sensing methods (i.e., image correlation and InSAR). Over longer periods (10<sup>3</sup> to 10<sup>4</sup> years), we used cosmogenic terrestrial nuclides (TCN) dating. By applying this methodology to boulder surfaces at different positions along the central flow line of the rock glacier, from the headwall to its terminus, we will be able to convert the exposure ages into surface displacement. The use of dynamic modelling of rock glaciers [6] will allow us to relate the surface kinematics to short to long time scales. It will then be possible to discuss the age, origin of rock glaciers and how topo-climatic and geomorphological processes control their evolution in Alpine environment.</p><p> </p><p>[1] Barsch, D.: Rockglaciers. Indicators for the Present and Former Geoecology in High Mountain Environments, Springer series in physical environment vol. 16, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 1996.</p><p>[2] Jones, D. B., Harrison, S., Anderson, K., and Whalley, W. B.: Rock glaciers and mountain hydrology: A review, Earth-Sci Rev, 193, 66–90, 2019.</p><p>[3] Haeberli, W., Schaub, Y., and Huggel, C.: Increasing risks related to landslides from degrading permafrost into new lakes in deglaciating mountain ranges, Geomorphology, 293, 405–417, 2017.</p><p>[4] Knight, J., Harrison, S., and Jones, D. B.: Rock glaciers and the geomorphological evolution of deglacierizing mountains, Geomorphology, 324, 14–24, 2019.</p><p>[5] MacGregor, K.R., Anderson, R.S., Waddington, E.D.: Numerical modeling of glacial erosion and headwall processes in alpine valleys. Geomorphology 103 (2):189–204, 2009.</p><p>[6] Anderson, R. S., Anderson, L. S., Armstrong, W. H., Rossi, M. W., & Crump, S. E.: Glaciation of alpine valleys: The glacier–debris-covered glacier–rock glacier continuum. Geomorphology, 311, 127-142, 2018.</p>

scholarly journals Influence of microclimate and geomorphological factors on alpine vegetation in the Western Swiss Alps

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (15) ◽  
pp. 3093-3107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Giaccone ◽  
Miska Luoto ◽  
Pascal Vittoz ◽  
Antoine Guisan ◽  
Grégoire Mariéthoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Alpine Vegetation ◽  
Western Swiss Alps
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document