Effects of the Little Ice Age on avalanche boulder tongues in the French Alps (Massif des Ecrins)

Auteurs :
JOMELLI, V.
PECH, P.

Description :
Lichens of the subspecies Rhizocarpon geographicum were measured on 25 avalanches boulder tongues in the Massif des Ecrins to elucidate the Little Ice Age history of avalanche activity. According to the results, the avalanche activity was at a maximum before AD 1650 and between AD 1730 and 1830. The relatively good correspondence between avalanche boulder tongue and glacier behaviour in the Massif des Ecrins to climatic variation which occurred since the Little Ice Age confirms that avalanche boulder tongues can be viewed as reliable indicators of the activity of certain slopes processes within the periglacial zone.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2004, vol. 29, n°. 5, p. 553-564, nombre de pages : 12, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 63 ref.

Date :
2004

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley