Vertical movements of boulders in a subnival boulder pavement at 2800 m a.s.l. in the Alps (France)

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Authors: Pissart, Albert, Francou, B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley & Sons 1992
• Subjects: Alps; Frost heaving; Nivation; Subnival boulder pavement; France; Physical; chemical; mathematical & earth Sciences; Earth sciences & physical geography; Physique; chimie; mathématiques & sciences de la terre; Sciences de la terre & géographie physique; Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Online Access: https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/250155; https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/250155/1/Vertical%20movements%20of%20boulders.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430030305

peer reviewed Vertical movements of boulders within a subnival boulder pavement were measured at 2800 m a.s.l. in the Alps over a period of 10 years. It was demonstrated that some boulders are undergoing sinking and others upheaving. The upheaving occurs in autumn during ground freezing, while the sinking of boulders probably occurs in springtime when the ground temperature is below 0 °C under the snow patch.