Do deformation patterns and initial failure timing of rock-slope instabilities in Norway relate to permafrost dynamics?

• Main Authors: Hilger, Paula, Hermanns, Reginald, L, Etzelmüller, Bernd, Myhra, Kristin, Saeterdal, Magnin, Florence, Gosse, John, C
• 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: Rock-slope instabilities; TCN-dating; deformation pattern; thermal processes; permafrost; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03337514; https://hal.science/hal-03337514/document; https://hal.science/hal-03337514/file/Hilger_et_al_2018_EUCOP.pdf

International audience Deep-seated and slow moving rock-slope instabilities are common in the Norwegian valley and fjord system. While many sudden rock-slope failures happened shortly after deglaciation, there is still a number of recently deforming unstable rock slopes. We have dated several slip surfaces using cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating, which provides the duration of time that a rock surface has been exposed to cosmic rays. The chronologies reveal that rock-slope deformation can be active during most of the Holocene, and that creep velocities have varied during this period. The principal objective is to evaluate the reason of these velocity variations, including if thermal processes in the rock slopes may have influenced the rock slope dynamics.