Kinematics and thermal conditions in the permafrost-affected rockwalls of the Aiguille du Midi (3842 m a.s.l., Mont Blanc massif, France).

• Main Authors: Ravanel, Ludovic, Grangier, Germain, Weber, Samuel, Beutel, Jan, Magnin, Florence, Gruber, Stephan, Deline, Philip
• Other Authors: 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), Department of Geography Zürich, Universität Zürich Zürich = University of Zurich (UZH), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, European Geosciences Union
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2016
• Subjects: [SDE]Environmental Sciences; permafrost
• Online Access: https://sde.hal.science/hal-01781303

International audience Processes that control climate-dependent rockfall from permafrost-affected rock slopes are still poorly understood.In this study, we present the results of a Wireless Sensor Network, integrated within the Swiss project PermaSenseand developed in 2012, to measure rock temperature and geotechnical parameters in the steep rockwalls of theAiguille du Midi (AdM, 3842 m a.s.l., Mont Blanc massif, France). Accessible year round by cable car, the AdMcomprises two main peaks: (i) the Piton Nord with the cable car arrival station, where 4 crack-meters are placed onfour major fractures, and (ii) the Piton Central with many touristic infrastructure, equipped with three 10-m-deepboreholes with 15 temperatures sensors since 2009, and where 2 crack-meters are installed along a major fracture.Three major kinematic regimes are observed: (i) opening of clefts when the rock temperature becomes positive,followed by closing during the cold period, (ii) summer opening continued by a winter opening, and (iii) closingduring the warm period followed by opening in winter.