Quantifying irreversible movement in steep, fractured bedrock permafrost on Matterhorn (CH) ...

• Main Authors: Weber, Samuel, Beutel, Jan, Faillettaz, Jérome, Hasler, Andreas, Krautblatter, Michael, Vieli, Andreas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: ETH Zurich 2017
• Subjects: permafrost
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000161338; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/179308

Understanding rock slope kinematics in steep, fractured bedrock permafrost is a challenging task. Recent laboratory studies have provided enhanced understanding of rock fatigue and fracturing in cold environments but were not successfully confirmed by field studies. This study presents a unique time series of fracture kinematics, rock temperatures and environmental conditions at 3500 m a. s. l. on the steep, strongly fractured Hörnligrat of the Matterhorn (Swiss Alps). Thanks to 8 years of continuous data, the longer-term evolution of fracture kinematics in permafrost can be analyzed with an unprecedented level of detail. Evidence for common trends in spatiotemporal pattern of fracture kinematics could be found: a partly reversible seasonal movement can be observed at all locations, with variable amplitudes. In the wider context of rock slope stability assessment, we propose separating reversible (elastic) components of fracture kinematics, caused by thermoelastic strains, from the irreversible (plastic) ... : The Cryosphere, 11 (1) ...