The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum
The glacial and torrential basin of Taconnaz (Mont-Blanc massif, France) dominates the Chamonix valley. It is one of the major paths for snow avalanches in the Alps, often triggered by serac falls from the Taconnaz glacier. On 24 November 2018, the basin’s multi-risk nature was further accentuated b...
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2023
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9927062cb3504c0184f7697cd7d1d603 2023-10-09T21:52:17+02:00 The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum Ludovic Ravanel Pierre-Allain Duvillard Laurent Astrade Thierry Faug Philip Deline Johan Berthet Maëva Cathala Florence Magnin Alexandre Baratier Xavier Bodin 2023-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179716 https://doaj.org/article/9927062cb3504c0184f7697cd7d1d603 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/17/9716 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3417 doi:10.3390/app13179716 2076-3417 https://doaj.org/article/9927062cb3504c0184f7697cd7d1d603 Applied Sciences, Vol 13, Iss 9716, p 9716 (2023) rockfall glacier permafrost torrent natural hazard Mont-Blanc massif Technology T Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TA1-2040 Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179716 2023-09-10T00:35:11Z The glacial and torrential basin of Taconnaz (Mont-Blanc massif, France) dominates the Chamonix valley. It is one of the major paths for snow avalanches in the Alps, often triggered by serac falls from the Taconnaz glacier. On 24 November 2018, the basin’s multi-risk nature was further accentuated by a new type of hazard with a rockfall triggered at c . 2700 m a.s.l. It travelled down over a distance of 1.85 km and stopped 165 m away from the construction site of a micro-hydroelectric power station. We studied the triggering conditions at the permafrost lower limit, the effects of the supra-glacial path on the flow patterns, and the fate of the scar and the deposit on torrential activity. By comparing a pre-event Structure from Motion model with a post-event LiDAR model, we estimated the volume of the scar to be 42,900 m 3 (±5%). A numerical model was employed to simulate the rapid runout. It revealed the complexity of the flow, attributed to the sequestration of a part of the deposit in crevasses, the incorporation of a significant volume of ice resulting in a transition from a dry granular flow to a mud-like flow, and the presence of numerous deposit zones. Subsequent monitoring of the area after the event allowed for the documentation of the scar’s evolution, including a landslide, as well as the progressive degradation and evacuation of the deposit by the torrent without producing debris flow. The study of the triggering factors indicated glacial retreat as the probable main cause, assisted by the melting of ice lenses left by the permafrost disappearance. Finally, we present replicable methods for managing risks at the site following the event. This event improves the understanding of cascading processes that increasingly impact Alpine areas in the context of climate change. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Mont Blanc ENVELOPE(69.468,69.468,-49.461,-49.461) Applied Sciences 13 17 9716 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
rockfall glacier permafrost torrent natural hazard Mont-Blanc massif Technology T Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TA1-2040 Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 |
spellingShingle |
rockfall glacier permafrost torrent natural hazard Mont-Blanc massif Technology T Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TA1-2040 Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 Ludovic Ravanel Pierre-Allain Duvillard Laurent Astrade Thierry Faug Philip Deline Johan Berthet Maëva Cathala Florence Magnin Alexandre Baratier Xavier Bodin The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum |
topic_facet |
rockfall glacier permafrost torrent natural hazard Mont-Blanc massif Technology T Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TA1-2040 Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Physics QC1-999 Chemistry QD1-999 |
description |
The glacial and torrential basin of Taconnaz (Mont-Blanc massif, France) dominates the Chamonix valley. It is one of the major paths for snow avalanches in the Alps, often triggered by serac falls from the Taconnaz glacier. On 24 November 2018, the basin’s multi-risk nature was further accentuated by a new type of hazard with a rockfall triggered at c . 2700 m a.s.l. It travelled down over a distance of 1.85 km and stopped 165 m away from the construction site of a micro-hydroelectric power station. We studied the triggering conditions at the permafrost lower limit, the effects of the supra-glacial path on the flow patterns, and the fate of the scar and the deposit on torrential activity. By comparing a pre-event Structure from Motion model with a post-event LiDAR model, we estimated the volume of the scar to be 42,900 m 3 (±5%). A numerical model was employed to simulate the rapid runout. It revealed the complexity of the flow, attributed to the sequestration of a part of the deposit in crevasses, the incorporation of a significant volume of ice resulting in a transition from a dry granular flow to a mud-like flow, and the presence of numerous deposit zones. Subsequent monitoring of the area after the event allowed for the documentation of the scar’s evolution, including a landslide, as well as the progressive degradation and evacuation of the deposit by the torrent without producing debris flow. The study of the triggering factors indicated glacial retreat as the probable main cause, assisted by the melting of ice lenses left by the permafrost disappearance. Finally, we present replicable methods for managing risks at the site following the event. This event improves the understanding of cascading processes that increasingly impact Alpine areas in the context of climate change. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ludovic Ravanel Pierre-Allain Duvillard Laurent Astrade Thierry Faug Philip Deline Johan Berthet Maëva Cathala Florence Magnin Alexandre Baratier Xavier Bodin |
author_facet |
Ludovic Ravanel Pierre-Allain Duvillard Laurent Astrade Thierry Faug Philip Deline Johan Berthet Maëva Cathala Florence Magnin Alexandre Baratier Xavier Bodin |
author_sort |
Ludovic Ravanel |
title |
The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum |
title_short |
The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum |
title_full |
The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum |
title_fullStr |
The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Taconnaz Rockfall (Mont-Blanc Massif, European Alps) of November 2018: A Complex and At-Risk Rockwall-Glacier-Torrent Morphodynamic Continuum |
title_sort |
taconnaz rockfall (mont-blanc massif, european alps) of november 2018: a complex and at-risk rockwall-glacier-torrent morphodynamic continuum |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179716 https://doaj.org/article/9927062cb3504c0184f7697cd7d1d603 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(69.468,69.468,-49.461,-49.461) |
geographic |
Mont Blanc |
geographic_facet |
Mont Blanc |
genre |
Ice permafrost |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost |
op_source |
Applied Sciences, Vol 13, Iss 9716, p 9716 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/17/9716 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3417 doi:10.3390/app13179716 2076-3417 https://doaj.org/article/9927062cb3504c0184f7697cd7d1d603 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179716 |
container_title |
Applied Sciences |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
17 |
container_start_page |
9716 |
_version_ |
1779315424192626688 |