Recent Interannual Variations of Rockglaciers Creep in the European Alps

Recent interannual variation of rockglaciers surface motion is compared for 16 landforms monitored since a few years in various parts of the European Alps. Large fluctuations have been observed particularly since 2002. The investigated rockglaciers have shown mostly similar behavior whatever their l...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Delaloye, R., Perruchoud, E., Avian, M., Kaufmann, V., Bodin, X., Hausmann, H., Ikeda, A., Kääb, A., Kellerer-Pirklbauer, A., Krainer, K., Lambiel, C., Mihajlovic, D., Staub, B., Roer, I., Thibert, E.
Other Authors: UNIVERSITY OF FRIBOURG CHE, GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AUT, INSTITUT DE GEOGRAPHIE ALPINE GRENOBLE FRA, VIENNA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AUT, UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA JPN, UNIVERSITY OF OSLO NOR, UNIVERSITY OF GRAZ AUT, UNIVERSITY OF INNSBRUCK AUT, UNIVERSITE DE LAUSANNE CHE, UNIVERSITY OF BERN CHE, UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH CHE, CEMAGREF GRENOBLE ETGR
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
GLACIER
FLUAGE
CLIMAT
CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE GLOBAL
CLIMATE
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
permafrost
Online Access:https://irsteadoc.irstea.fr/cemoa/PUB00024292
Description
Summary:Recent interannual variation of rockglaciers surface motion is compared for 16 landforms monitored since a few years in various parts of the European Alps. Large fluctuations have been observed particularly since 2002. The investigated rockglaciers have shown mostly similar behavior whatever their location in the Alpine arc, their size or their velocity. The observed interannual variations appear to be primarily related to external climatic factors rather than to internal characteristics. They are mostly well correlated to mean annual ground surface temperature shifts with a delay of approximately 6-12 months reflecting their propagation deeper into permafrost. Other seasonal factors may play a significant role: a lower intensity of winter ground freezing and/or a larger winter snow accumulation appear to facilitate a higher rate of rockglaciers surface motion. / Les variations récentes des déplacements de surface de 16 glaciers rocheux suivis depuis quelques années sont comparés pour 16 appareils. De larges fluctuation sont observées depuis 2002 en particulier. Les glaciers étudiés montrent des comportement similaires à l'échelle de l'ensemble de l'arc alpin. Les variations interannuelles semblent être reliées aux conditions climatiques et non à la structure interne. Elles sont bien corrélées aux température moyenne annuelles de surface avec un temps de réponse de l'ordre de 6-12 mois lié la diffusion d'énergie dans le permafrost. D'autres facteurs saisonniers jouent un rôle significatif: une plus faible accumulation hivernale de neige favorise un déplacement de surface plus élevé.

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