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Assessing destabilization patterns of active rock glaciers in the Turtmann Valley incorporating a general typology for destabilized rock glaciers

Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Rock glacier destabilization is a complex process that has gained increasing scientific attention, yet its classification and underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This thesis contributes to the understanding of destabilized rock glaciers by developing a general typology that integrates topographic setting with morphological and kinematic indicators. The typology serves to define diagnostic characteristics, which are applied to assess the long-term evolution of nine selected rock glaciers in the Turtmann Valley, Swiss Alps, using true orthophotos and elevation models from 1968 to 2023. Horizontal displacement is reconstructed using CIAS, vertical changes are quantified through DEM of Difference analysis, and surface disturbance evolution is examined through image interpretation. The results show that destabilization affects nearly half of the studied rock glaciers, extending beyond previously known cases. Distinct patterns of acceleration, mass redistribution, and surface disturbance confirm that destabilization is a gradual and spatially heterogeneous process. A comparison with other Alpine regions highlights both parallels and regional particularities, supporting the hypothesis that local topographic and internal factors modulate the response of rock glaciers to climatic forcing. The typology developed in this study offers a transferable framework for the classification of destabilized rock glaciers. Future research should focus on deepening the understanding of the processes driving destabilization, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change.
DOI: 10.5167/uzh-278852
Author: Steffen, Claudio
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6929805227
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