Mass-Movements in Cold and Polar Climates

• Main Authors: Saemundsson, Þorsteinn, Morino, Costanza, Conway, Susan J.
• Other Authors: University of Iceland Reykjavik, Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne (EDYTEM), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique UMR 6112 (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), This work is funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche in the framework of the project ANR-19-CE01-0010 PERMOLARDS, ANR-19-CE01-0010,Permolards,Les molards, marqueurs de l'évolution de la dégradation du pergélisol de montagne(2019)
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2021
• Subjects: Rapid mass movements; active-layer-detachment slides; retrogressivethaw slumps; debris flows; rock/debris falls; rock/debris slides; rock/debris avalanches; deep seated gravitational slope deformation (DSGDS); slush flows; ice-flows; snowavalanches; permafrost; glacial environments; periglacial environments; paraglacial environments; [SDU.STU.GM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geomorphology; [SDU.STU.GL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Glaciology; Ice
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03356287; https://hal.science/hal-03356287/document; https://hal.science/hal-03356287/file/S%C3%A6mundsson_et_al_2021_TreatGeomorph.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818234-5.00117-6

International audience Mass-movements in cold and Polar climates often involve permafrost and ice and hence these two phenomena are recurring themes throughout this chapter. We consider specifically mass movements in glacial, periglacial and paraglacial settings. For each environmental setting we describe the types of mass movement that have been documented in the literature, describing the current research foci and remaining challenges. We specifically highlight that mass-movements in cold and Polar climates are particularly sensitive to climate change, because of the involvement of permafrost and ice in their triggering and dynamics and therefore we may anticipate an increasing frequency and increased hazard from these phenomena in the future in response to unprecedented rates of environmental change.