Brief Communication: "An inventory of permafrost evidence for the European Alps"

• Main Authors: Suter, C., Bodin, X., Boeckli, L., Crepaz, A., Scapozza, C., Morra Di Cella, U., Seppi, R., Letey, S., Lang, K., Gruber, S., Phillips, M., Cremonese, E., Pogliotti, P., Kellerer-Pirklbauer, A., Zischg, Andreas Paul, Mair, V., Ravanel, L., Noetzli, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2011
• Subjects: 910 Geography & travel; 550 Earth sciences & geology; 500 Science; permafrost
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7892/boris.71337; http://boris.unibe.ch/71337/

The investigation and modelling of permafrost distribution, particularly in areas of discontinuous permafrost, is challenging due to spatial heterogeneity, remoteness of measurement sites and data scarcity. We have designed a strategy for standardizing different local data sets containing evidence of the presence or absence of permafrost into an inventory for the entire European Alps. With this brief communication, we present the structure and contents of this inventory. This collection of permafrost evidence not only highlights existing data and allows new analyses based on larger data sets, but also provides complementary information for an improved interpretation of monitoring results.