Modeling permafrost occurrence, glacier-bed topography and possible future lakes for assessing changing hazard conditions in cold mountain regions

• Main Authors: Haeberli, Wilfried, Magnin, Florence, Linsbauer, Andreas
• 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)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2018
• Subjects: global warming; mountain permafrost; glacier beds; new lakes; rock/ice avalanches; natural hazards; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03337508; https://hal.science/hal-03337508/document; https://hal.science/hal-03337508/file/EUCOP2018_Haeberli.pdf

International audience The rapid transformation of glacial into periglacial mountain landscapes under conditions of continued global warming can cause new and locally severe changes in hazard and risk conditions. A special focus must be on systematically increasing risks due to far-reaching flood waves or debris flows caused by rock/ice avalanches into new lakes at the foot of steep slopes with decreasing stability due to permafrost degradation and/or glacial de-buttressing. Modeling permafrost occurrence and glacier-bed topography provides important information for anticipating critical future situations.