Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps
In this study, we propose a methodology to estimate the spatial distribution of destabilizing rock glaciers, with a focus on the French Alps. We mapped geomorphological features that can be typically found in cases of rock glacier destabilization (e.g. crevasses and scarps) using orthoimages taken f...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5f3305e7694345acb8bc6134bea0bd35 2023-05-15T17:58:03+02:00 Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps M. Marcer C. Serrano A. Brenning X. Bodin J. Goetz P. Schoeneich 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-141-2019 https://doaj.org/article/5f3305e7694345acb8bc6134bea0bd35 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/141/2019/tc-13-141-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-13-141-2019 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/5f3305e7694345acb8bc6134bea0bd35 The Cryosphere, Vol 13, Pp 141-155 (2019) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-141-2019 2022-12-31T13:42:09Z In this study, we propose a methodology to estimate the spatial distribution of destabilizing rock glaciers, with a focus on the French Alps. We mapped geomorphological features that can be typically found in cases of rock glacier destabilization (e.g. crevasses and scarps) using orthoimages taken from 2000 to 2013. A destabilization rating was assigned by taking into account the evolution of these mapped destabilization geomorphological features and by observing the surface deformation patterns of the rock glacier, also using the available orthoimages. This destabilization rating then served as input to model the occurrence of rock glacier destabilization in relation to terrain attributes and to spatially predict the susceptibility to destabilization at a regional scale. Significant evidence of destabilization could be observed in 46 rock glaciers, i.e. 10 % of the total active rock glaciers in the region. Based on our susceptibility model of destabilization occurrence, it was found that this phenomenon is more likely to occur in elevations around the 0 ∘ C isotherm (2700–2900 m a.s.l.), on north-facing slopes, steep terrain (25 to 30 ∘ ) and flat to slightly convex topographies. Model performance was good (AUROC = 0.76), and the susceptibility map also performed well at reproducing observable patterns of destabilization. About 3 km 2 of creeping permafrost, or 10 % of the surface occupied by active rock glaciers, had a high susceptibility to destabilization. Considering we observed that only half of these areas of creep are currently showing destabilization evidence, we suspect there is a high potential for future rock glacier destabilization within the French Alps. Article in Journal/Newspaper permafrost The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Cryosphere 13 1 141 155 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 M. Marcer C. Serrano A. Brenning X. Bodin J. Goetz P. Schoeneich Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
In this study, we propose a methodology to estimate the spatial distribution of destabilizing rock glaciers, with a focus on the French Alps. We mapped geomorphological features that can be typically found in cases of rock glacier destabilization (e.g. crevasses and scarps) using orthoimages taken from 2000 to 2013. A destabilization rating was assigned by taking into account the evolution of these mapped destabilization geomorphological features and by observing the surface deformation patterns of the rock glacier, also using the available orthoimages. This destabilization rating then served as input to model the occurrence of rock glacier destabilization in relation to terrain attributes and to spatially predict the susceptibility to destabilization at a regional scale. Significant evidence of destabilization could be observed in 46 rock glaciers, i.e. 10 % of the total active rock glaciers in the region. Based on our susceptibility model of destabilization occurrence, it was found that this phenomenon is more likely to occur in elevations around the 0 ∘ C isotherm (2700–2900 m a.s.l.), on north-facing slopes, steep terrain (25 to 30 ∘ ) and flat to slightly convex topographies. Model performance was good (AUROC = 0.76), and the susceptibility map also performed well at reproducing observable patterns of destabilization. About 3 km 2 of creeping permafrost, or 10 % of the surface occupied by active rock glaciers, had a high susceptibility to destabilization. Considering we observed that only half of these areas of creep are currently showing destabilization evidence, we suspect there is a high potential for future rock glacier destabilization within the French Alps. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
M. Marcer C. Serrano A. Brenning X. Bodin J. Goetz P. Schoeneich |
author_facet |
M. Marcer C. Serrano A. Brenning X. Bodin J. Goetz P. Schoeneich |
author_sort |
M. Marcer |
title |
Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps |
title_short |
Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps |
title_full |
Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps |
title_fullStr |
Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the French Alps |
title_sort |
evaluating the destabilization susceptibility of active rock glaciers in the french alps |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-141-2019 https://doaj.org/article/5f3305e7694345acb8bc6134bea0bd35 |
genre |
permafrost The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
permafrost The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 13, Pp 141-155 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/141/2019/tc-13-141-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-13-141-2019 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/5f3305e7694345acb8bc6134bea0bd35 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-141-2019 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
141 |
op_container_end_page |
155 |
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1766166577019879424 |