Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland)

International audience High mountain environments are increasingly affected by rockfall-related hazards, driven by climate change. Studying rockfall in these environments is, however, challenging due to the inaccessibility of mountain ridges and the complex interaction between controlling factors. I...

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Published in:Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
Main Authors: Hendrickx, Hanne, Le Roy, Gaëlle, Helmstetter, Agnès, Pointner, Eric, Larose, Eric, Braillard, Luc, Nyssen, Jan, Delaloye, Reynald, Frankl, Amaury
Other Authors: Universiteit Gent = Ghent University (UGENT), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry ), Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTerre), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Gustave Eiffel-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (Fédération OSUG)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Université de Fribourg = University of Fribourg (UNIFR), Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations (UMR AMAP), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université de Montpellier (UM), ANR-17-LCV2-0007,GEO3I LAB,Laboratoire Innovation en Géophysique, Géomécanique, Géotechnique(2017)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: HAL CCSD 2022
Subjects:
Ice
Online Access:https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637v1/document
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637v1/file/ESPL_GrosseGrabe2021_R1_.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5333
id ftinraparis:oai:HAL:hal-03603637v1
record_format openpolar
institution Open Polar
collection Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique: ProdINRA
op_collection_id ftinraparis
language English
topic Mountain permafrost
Photogrammetry
Rockfall
Seismology
Structural predisposition
Terrestrial laser scanner
[SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics
Phylogenetics and taxonomy
[SDV.EE.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology
environment/Ecosystems
[SDV.BV.BOT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics
[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
spellingShingle Mountain permafrost
Photogrammetry
Rockfall
Seismology
Structural predisposition
Terrestrial laser scanner
[SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics
Phylogenetics and taxonomy
[SDV.EE.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology
environment/Ecosystems
[SDV.BV.BOT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics
[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
Hendrickx, Hanne
Le Roy, Gaëlle
Helmstetter, Agnès
Pointner, Eric
Larose, Eric
Braillard, Luc
Nyssen, Jan
Delaloye, Reynald
Frankl, Amaury
Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland)
topic_facet Mountain permafrost
Photogrammetry
Rockfall
Seismology
Structural predisposition
Terrestrial laser scanner
[SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics
Phylogenetics and taxonomy
[SDV.EE.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology
environment/Ecosystems
[SDV.BV.BOT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics
[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology
description International audience High mountain environments are increasingly affected by rockfall-related hazards, driven by climate change. Studying rockfall in these environments is, however, challenging due to the inaccessibility of mountain ridges and the complex interaction between controlling factors. In this study, the rock wall of Grosse Grabe North Pillar in the Matter valley (Western Swiss Alps) was studied in detail over a timespan of 4 years (2017–2021). Data was collected from time-lapse photography, terrestrial laser scanning, unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry and seismic measurements. The presented dataset is unique because data collection started before the onset of the rock wall destabilization, allowing us to understand precursory indicators of large-scale events. In total, we recorded 382 rock- and cliff fall events (100–31 300 m3), with a total volume of 204 323 ± 8173 m3, resulting in a scar depth of ~40 m. An associated rock wall retreat rate of 71.2 ± 2.8 mm year−1 was calculated for the 1991–2021 period. Highly fractured south-exposed gneiss lithology is viewed as the main predisposition for the observed rock- and cliff fall events, allowing high-temperature oscillations to cause irreversible movements at fracture level. Cliff falls (104–106 m3) were preluded by an outward movement of the rock wall that started to increase 1.5 years before any significant collapse of the rock wall, reaching locally up to 30 cm. All cliff fall events occurred in summer, exposing ice in the clefts. This is assumed to be the base of the permafrost from the north side. Rapid permafrost degradation is viewed as a triggering factor after its exposure, causing progressive failure of the rock wall, leading to very high rock wall retreat rates on a decadal timescale.
author2 Universiteit Gent = Ghent University (UGENT)
Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )
Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTerre)
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Gustave Eiffel-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (Fédération OSUG)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)
Université de Fribourg = University of Fribourg (UNIFR)
Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations (UMR AMAP)
Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)
ANR-17-LCV2-0007,GEO3I LAB,Laboratoire Innovation en Géophysique, Géomécanique, Géotechnique(2017)
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Hendrickx, Hanne
Le Roy, Gaëlle
Helmstetter, Agnès
Pointner, Eric
Larose, Eric
Braillard, Luc
Nyssen, Jan
Delaloye, Reynald
Frankl, Amaury
author_facet Hendrickx, Hanne
Le Roy, Gaëlle
Helmstetter, Agnès
Pointner, Eric
Larose, Eric
Braillard, Luc
Nyssen, Jan
Delaloye, Reynald
Frankl, Amaury
author_sort Hendrickx, Hanne
title Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland)
title_short Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland)
title_full Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland)
title_fullStr Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland)
title_full_unstemmed Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland)
title_sort timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (mattertal, switzerland)
publisher HAL CCSD
publishDate 2022
url https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637v1/document
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637v1/file/ESPL_GrosseGrabe2021_R1_.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5333
long_lat ENVELOPE(-111.452,-111.452,58.917,58.917)
ENVELOPE(166.217,166.217,-77.583,-77.583)
geographic High Rock
Pillar
geographic_facet High Rock
Pillar
genre Ice
permafrost
genre_facet Ice
permafrost
op_source ISSN: 0197-9337
EISSN: 1096-9837
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2022, 57 (6), pp.1532-1549. ⟨10.1002/esp.5333⟩
op_relation info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1002/esp.5333
doi:10.1002/esp.5333
WOS: 000756328800001
op_rights info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5333
container_title Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
container_volume 47
container_issue 6
container_start_page 1532
op_container_end_page 1549
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spelling ftinraparis:oai:HAL:hal-03603637v1 2024-11-03T14:56:16+00:00 Timing, volume and precursory indicators of rock‐ and cliff fall on a permafrost mountain ridge (Mattertal, Switzerland) Hendrickx, Hanne Le Roy, Gaëlle Helmstetter, Agnès Pointner, Eric Larose, Eric Braillard, Luc Nyssen, Jan Delaloye, Reynald Frankl, Amaury Universiteit Gent = Ghent University (UGENT) Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry ) Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTerre) Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Gustave Eiffel-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (Fédération OSUG)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) Université de Fribourg = University of Fribourg (UNIFR) Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations (UMR AMAP) Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université de Montpellier (UM) ANR-17-LCV2-0007,GEO3I LAB,Laboratoire Innovation en Géophysique, Géomécanique, Géotechnique(2017) 2022 https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637 https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637v1/document https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637v1/file/ESPL_GrosseGrabe2021_R1_.pdf https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5333 en eng HAL CCSD Wiley info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1002/esp.5333 doi:10.1002/esp.5333 WOS: 000756328800001 info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess ISSN: 0197-9337 EISSN: 1096-9837 Earth Surface Processes and Landforms https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03603637 Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2022, 57 (6), pp.1532-1549. ⟨10.1002/esp.5333⟩ Mountain permafrost Photogrammetry Rockfall Seismology Structural predisposition Terrestrial laser scanner [SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics Phylogenetics and taxonomy [SDV.EE.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology environment/Ecosystems [SDV.BV.BOT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2022 ftinraparis https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5333 2024-10-22T15:00:09Z International audience High mountain environments are increasingly affected by rockfall-related hazards, driven by climate change. Studying rockfall in these environments is, however, challenging due to the inaccessibility of mountain ridges and the complex interaction between controlling factors. In this study, the rock wall of Grosse Grabe North Pillar in the Matter valley (Western Swiss Alps) was studied in detail over a timespan of 4 years (2017–2021). Data was collected from time-lapse photography, terrestrial laser scanning, unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry and seismic measurements. The presented dataset is unique because data collection started before the onset of the rock wall destabilization, allowing us to understand precursory indicators of large-scale events. In total, we recorded 382 rock- and cliff fall events (100–31 300 m3), with a total volume of 204 323 ± 8173 m3, resulting in a scar depth of ~40 m. An associated rock wall retreat rate of 71.2 ± 2.8 mm year−1 was calculated for the 1991–2021 period. Highly fractured south-exposed gneiss lithology is viewed as the main predisposition for the observed rock- and cliff fall events, allowing high-temperature oscillations to cause irreversible movements at fracture level. Cliff falls (104–106 m3) were preluded by an outward movement of the rock wall that started to increase 1.5 years before any significant collapse of the rock wall, reaching locally up to 30 cm. All cliff fall events occurred in summer, exposing ice in the clefts. This is assumed to be the base of the permafrost from the north side. Rapid permafrost degradation is viewed as a triggering factor after its exposure, causing progressive failure of the rock wall, leading to very high rock wall retreat rates on a decadal timescale. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique: ProdINRA High Rock ENVELOPE(-111.452,-111.452,58.917,58.917) Pillar ENVELOPE(166.217,166.217,-77.583,-77.583) Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 47 6 1532 1549