Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France)
International audience We studied a newly identified, multiple-kilometer-long rock slope failure in the Aiguilles Rouges massif (Chamonix valley, France). Owing to a high-resolution light detection and ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation model (DEM) and field work, we mapped morphostructures, includin...
Published in: | Quaternary International |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Online Access: | https://hal.science/hal-03836409 https://hal.science/hal-03836409/document https://hal.science/hal-03836409/file/final%20QUATINT-D-22-00108_R1.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 |
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ftuniveiffel:oai:HAL:hal-03836409v1 2023-05-15T17:08:23+02:00 Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France) Courtial-Manent, L. Mugnier, Jean‐louis Zerathe, S. Carcaillet, J. Vassallo, R. Ravanel, L. Tavernier, L. Buoncristiani, J.-F. Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTerre) Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut de recherche pour le développement IRD : UR219-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Gustave Eiffel-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) 2022 https://hal.science/hal-03836409 https://hal.science/hal-03836409/document https://hal.science/hal-03836409/file/final%20QUATINT-D-22-00108_R1.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 en eng HAL CCSD Elsevier info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 hal-03836409 https://hal.science/hal-03836409 https://hal.science/hal-03836409/document https://hal.science/hal-03836409/file/final%20QUATINT-D-22-00108_R1.pdf doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess ISSN: 1040-6182 Quaternary International https://hal.science/hal-03836409 Quaternary International, In press, ⟨10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001⟩ Alpine glacial valley Rock slope failure Cosmogenic radionuclide dating Natural hazard Chamonix valley [SDE]Environmental Sciences info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2022 ftuniveiffel https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 2023-03-25T21:46:15Z International audience We studied a newly identified, multiple-kilometer-long rock slope failure in the Aiguilles Rouges massif (Chamonix valley, France). Owing to a high-resolution light detection and ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation model (DEM) and field work, we mapped morphostructures, including scarps, open fractures, and counterscarps. In some places, vertical offsets can reach tens of meters and crevasses can be meters wide. The evidence of gravitational activity (boulder displacements from analyses of archival satellite images) and the sharpness of the scarp outcrops together suggest very recent movements. These observations agree with ground displacement rates of a few millimeters per year estimated by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) time series between 2014 and 2018. We sampled two vertical profiles along the top scarps to define the chronology of the slope failure using beryllium-10 (10 Be) surface exposure dating. Glacially polished surfaces cut by these gravitational scarps were also sampled to determine glacial retreat timing as well as to constrain the pre-exposure 10 Be inheritance. In total, 11 samples were studied. Our results highlight a significant time lag (approximately 15 ka) between the first evidence of nonglacial activity and the initiation of the slope failure that happened 1.3-2.5 ka ago, depending on Revised Manuscript with changes accepted Click here to view linked References 2 the inheritance schemes. This suggests that the delayed opening of the crevasse is only one stage of a process that began when the valley was deepened and the glacial debuttressing is not the unique driving factor. This process of progressive failure of an excessively steep slope may continue, and the evolution of this slope failure may constitute a hazard for the upper part of the Chamonix valley. Article in Journal/Newspaper Long Rock HAL Univ-Eiffel (Université Gustave Eiffel) Long Rock ENVELOPE(-61.198,-61.198,-62.689,-62.689) Quaternary International 652 52 62 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
HAL Univ-Eiffel (Université Gustave Eiffel) |
op_collection_id |
ftuniveiffel |
language |
English |
topic |
Alpine glacial valley Rock slope failure Cosmogenic radionuclide dating Natural hazard Chamonix valley [SDE]Environmental Sciences |
spellingShingle |
Alpine glacial valley Rock slope failure Cosmogenic radionuclide dating Natural hazard Chamonix valley [SDE]Environmental Sciences Courtial-Manent, L. Mugnier, Jean‐louis Zerathe, S. Carcaillet, J. Vassallo, R. Ravanel, L. Tavernier, L. Buoncristiani, J.-F. Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France) |
topic_facet |
Alpine glacial valley Rock slope failure Cosmogenic radionuclide dating Natural hazard Chamonix valley [SDE]Environmental Sciences |
description |
International audience We studied a newly identified, multiple-kilometer-long rock slope failure in the Aiguilles Rouges massif (Chamonix valley, France). Owing to a high-resolution light detection and ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation model (DEM) and field work, we mapped morphostructures, including scarps, open fractures, and counterscarps. In some places, vertical offsets can reach tens of meters and crevasses can be meters wide. The evidence of gravitational activity (boulder displacements from analyses of archival satellite images) and the sharpness of the scarp outcrops together suggest very recent movements. These observations agree with ground displacement rates of a few millimeters per year estimated by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) time series between 2014 and 2018. We sampled two vertical profiles along the top scarps to define the chronology of the slope failure using beryllium-10 (10 Be) surface exposure dating. Glacially polished surfaces cut by these gravitational scarps were also sampled to determine glacial retreat timing as well as to constrain the pre-exposure 10 Be inheritance. In total, 11 samples were studied. Our results highlight a significant time lag (approximately 15 ka) between the first evidence of nonglacial activity and the initiation of the slope failure that happened 1.3-2.5 ka ago, depending on Revised Manuscript with changes accepted Click here to view linked References 2 the inheritance schemes. This suggests that the delayed opening of the crevasse is only one stage of a process that began when the valley was deepened and the glacial debuttressing is not the unique driving factor. This process of progressive failure of an excessively steep slope may continue, and the evolution of this slope failure may constitute a hazard for the upper part of the Chamonix valley. |
author2 |
Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTerre) Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut de recherche pour le développement IRD : UR219-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Gustave Eiffel-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Courtial-Manent, L. Mugnier, Jean‐louis Zerathe, S. Carcaillet, J. Vassallo, R. Ravanel, L. Tavernier, L. Buoncristiani, J.-F. |
author_facet |
Courtial-Manent, L. Mugnier, Jean‐louis Zerathe, S. Carcaillet, J. Vassallo, R. Ravanel, L. Tavernier, L. Buoncristiani, J.-F. |
author_sort |
Courtial-Manent, L. |
title |
Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France) |
title_short |
Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France) |
title_full |
Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France) |
title_fullStr |
Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Late Holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10Be surface exposure dating (Chamonix, France) |
title_sort |
late holocene initiation of a deep rock slope failure in an alpine valley revealed by 10be surface exposure dating (chamonix, france) |
publisher |
HAL CCSD |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://hal.science/hal-03836409 https://hal.science/hal-03836409/document https://hal.science/hal-03836409/file/final%20QUATINT-D-22-00108_R1.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-61.198,-61.198,-62.689,-62.689) |
geographic |
Long Rock |
geographic_facet |
Long Rock |
genre |
Long Rock |
genre_facet |
Long Rock |
op_source |
ISSN: 1040-6182 Quaternary International https://hal.science/hal-03836409 Quaternary International, In press, ⟨10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001⟩ |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 hal-03836409 https://hal.science/hal-03836409 https://hal.science/hal-03836409/document https://hal.science/hal-03836409/file/final%20QUATINT-D-22-00108_R1.pdf doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2022.10.001 |
container_title |
Quaternary International |
container_volume |
652 |
container_start_page |
52 |
op_container_end_page |
62 |
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1766064122002145280 |