Multiple Close-Range Geomatic Techniques for the Kinematic Study of the La Paúl Rock Glacier, Southern Pyrenees

• Published in: Remote Sensing
• Main Authors: Martínez Fernández, Adrián, Serrano, Enrique, de Sanjosé Blasco, José Juan, Gómez Lende, Manuel, Sánchez Fernández, Manuel, Pisabarro Pérez, Alfonso, Atkinson, Alan
• Other Authors: Analisis Geografico Regional, Facultad de Filosofia y Letras
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2023
• Subjects: Geografía; Geología; Rock glacier; Permafrost; Monitoring; Geomatics; GNSS; UAV; TLS; Pyrenees; 5404 Geografía Regional; 2506.01 Geología Regional; permafrost
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10612/22141; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16010134

[EN] Rock glaciers are one of the most representative elements of mountain permafrost. Their study can contribute to modelling climate change and its effect on natural and anthropogenic environments. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the evolution and quantify the changes in these periglacial landforms at a global level. This study aims to present the monitoring work carried out on the Pyrenean rock glacier of La Paúl (42°39′40″N, 0°26′34″E) from 2013 to 2020, employing in situ geomatics techniques to determine the landform surface kinematics accurately. For this purpose, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), terrestrial laser scanners (TLS), and 2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) photogrammetry techniques were used simultaneously to evaluate their compatibility in quantifying displacements. Based on 2D and 3D analyses, the results demonstrate the high surface activity of the rock glacier, with mean variations reaching 36 cm/year (GNSS) and a distribution of deformations that, although intensified on its western side, are present on the entire surface of La Paúl. This study uses state-of-the-art geomatics techniques to present dependable and updated quantitative data on a periglacial landform’s recent development in under-researched areas, such as the Pyrenean temperate high mountain. SI We are very grateful for the support of the many participants who have accompanied us during the nine years of fieldwork. This work could not have been accomplished without the logistical support of the Department of Geography of the University of Valladolid and the Digital Mapping & 3D Analysis Laboratory of the CENIEH, in addition to the help of the NEXUS Research Group members of the University of Extremadura. We also thank Gizéh Rangel-de Lázaro for her comments and review of the tex