Fracture kinematics in steep bedrock permafrost, Aiguille du Midi (3842 m a.s.l., Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France)

• Main Authors: Guillet, Gregoire, Ravanel, Ludovic, Beutel, Jan, 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), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Edited by Philip Deline, Xavier Bodin and Ludovic Ravanel, Co-editors: Chloé Barboux, Reynald Delaloye, Christophe Lambiel, Florence Magnin, Marco Marcer, Paolo Pogliotti, Philippe Schoeneich
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2018
• Subjects: [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; [SDE.IE]Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; [SHS.GEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Geography; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01892269

International audience Permafrost-affected rockwalls can suffer from mechanical fatigue related to thermo-cryogenic processes. However, these processes, the rock slope kinematics, and the links between both remain largely unclear. This study reports five years of crackmeter measurements at 2-hours resolution from six of the main perennially ice-filled rock clefts at the Aiguille du Midi (3842 m a.s.l., Mont Blanc massif). Seasonal and inter-annual variations as well as response of fracture kinematics to thermo-cryogenic process are analyzed.