Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps
In recent decades, slope instability in high‐mountain regions has often been linked to increase in temperature and the associated permafrost degradation and/or the increase in frequency/intensity of rainstorm events. In this context we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution and potential controlling...
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ftsubggeo:oai:e-docs.geo-leo.de:11858/8747 2023-05-15T17:57:08+02:00 Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps Savi, Sara Comiti, Francesco Strecker, Manfred R. Comiti, Francesco; 2 Faculty of Science and Technology Free University of Bozen‐Bolzano Bolzano Italy Strecker, Manfred R.; 1 Institute of Geosciences University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany 2021-03-06 https://doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-4401 http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/8747 eng eng doi:10.23689/fidgeo-4401 http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/8747 This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. CC-BY-NC ddc:551.3 ddc:554.3 debris flows frost‐cracking multi‐temporal analyses permafrost rainfall events rockfalls temperature extremes doc-type:article 2021 ftsubggeo https://doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-4401 2022-11-09T06:51:38Z In recent decades, slope instability in high‐mountain regions has often been linked to increase in temperature and the associated permafrost degradation and/or the increase in frequency/intensity of rainstorm events. In this context we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution and potential controlling mechanisms of small‐ to medium‐sized mass movements in a high‐elevation catchment of the Italian Alps (Sulden/Solda basin). We found that slope‐failure events (mostly in the form of rockfalls) have increased since the 2000s, whereas the occurrence of debris flows has increased only since 2010. The current climate‐warming trend registered in the study area apparently increases the elevation of rockfall‐detachment areas by approximately 300 m, mostly controlled by the combined effects of frost‐cracking and permafrost thawing. In contrast, the occurrence of debris flows does not exhibit such an altitudinal shift, as it is primarily driven by extreme precipitation events exceeding the 75th percentile of the intensity‐duration rainfall distribution. Potential debris‐flow events in this environment may additionally be influenced by the accumulation of unconsolidated debris over time, which is then released during extreme rainfall events. Overall, there is evidence that the upper Sulden/Solda basin (above ca. 2500 m above sea level [a.s.l.]), and especially the areas in the proximity of glaciers, have experienced a significant decrease in slope stability since the 2000s, and that an increase in rockfalls and debris flows during spring and summer can be inferred. Our study thus confirms that “forward‐looking” hazard mapping should be undertaken in these increasingly frequented, high‐elevation areas of the Alps, as environmental change has elevated the overall hazard level in these regions. Global warming has a far‐reaching impact on high‐mountain regions, where rising temperatures affect permafrost thaw, frost‐cracking mechanisms, and the frequency of convective storms. These changes impact the frequency of rockfalls and ... Article in Journal/Newspaper permafrost GEO-LEOe-docs (FID GEO) Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 46 7 1328 1347 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
GEO-LEOe-docs (FID GEO) |
op_collection_id |
ftsubggeo |
language |
English |
topic |
ddc:551.3 ddc:554.3 debris flows frost‐cracking multi‐temporal analyses permafrost rainfall events rockfalls temperature extremes |
spellingShingle |
ddc:551.3 ddc:554.3 debris flows frost‐cracking multi‐temporal analyses permafrost rainfall events rockfalls temperature extremes Savi, Sara Comiti, Francesco Strecker, Manfred R. Comiti, Francesco; 2 Faculty of Science and Technology Free University of Bozen‐Bolzano Bolzano Italy Strecker, Manfred R.; 1 Institute of Geosciences University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps |
topic_facet |
ddc:551.3 ddc:554.3 debris flows frost‐cracking multi‐temporal analyses permafrost rainfall events rockfalls temperature extremes |
description |
In recent decades, slope instability in high‐mountain regions has often been linked to increase in temperature and the associated permafrost degradation and/or the increase in frequency/intensity of rainstorm events. In this context we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution and potential controlling mechanisms of small‐ to medium‐sized mass movements in a high‐elevation catchment of the Italian Alps (Sulden/Solda basin). We found that slope‐failure events (mostly in the form of rockfalls) have increased since the 2000s, whereas the occurrence of debris flows has increased only since 2010. The current climate‐warming trend registered in the study area apparently increases the elevation of rockfall‐detachment areas by approximately 300 m, mostly controlled by the combined effects of frost‐cracking and permafrost thawing. In contrast, the occurrence of debris flows does not exhibit such an altitudinal shift, as it is primarily driven by extreme precipitation events exceeding the 75th percentile of the intensity‐duration rainfall distribution. Potential debris‐flow events in this environment may additionally be influenced by the accumulation of unconsolidated debris over time, which is then released during extreme rainfall events. Overall, there is evidence that the upper Sulden/Solda basin (above ca. 2500 m above sea level [a.s.l.]), and especially the areas in the proximity of glaciers, have experienced a significant decrease in slope stability since the 2000s, and that an increase in rockfalls and debris flows during spring and summer can be inferred. Our study thus confirms that “forward‐looking” hazard mapping should be undertaken in these increasingly frequented, high‐elevation areas of the Alps, as environmental change has elevated the overall hazard level in these regions. Global warming has a far‐reaching impact on high‐mountain regions, where rising temperatures affect permafrost thaw, frost‐cracking mechanisms, and the frequency of convective storms. These changes impact the frequency of rockfalls and ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Savi, Sara Comiti, Francesco Strecker, Manfred R. Comiti, Francesco; 2 Faculty of Science and Technology Free University of Bozen‐Bolzano Bolzano Italy Strecker, Manfred R.; 1 Institute of Geosciences University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany |
author_facet |
Savi, Sara Comiti, Francesco Strecker, Manfred R. Comiti, Francesco; 2 Faculty of Science and Technology Free University of Bozen‐Bolzano Bolzano Italy Strecker, Manfred R.; 1 Institute of Geosciences University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany |
author_sort |
Savi, Sara |
title |
Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps |
title_short |
Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps |
title_full |
Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps |
title_fullStr |
Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: A case study from the eastern European Alps |
title_sort |
pronounced increase in slope instability linked to global warming: a case study from the eastern european alps |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-4401 http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/8747 |
genre |
permafrost |
genre_facet |
permafrost |
op_relation |
doi:10.23689/fidgeo-4401 http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/8747 |
op_rights |
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY-NC |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-4401 |
container_title |
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms |
container_volume |
46 |
container_issue |
7 |
container_start_page |
1328 |
op_container_end_page |
1347 |
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1766165509924978688 |