Is climate change responsible for changing landslide activity in high mountains ?

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

HUGGEL, C.

Glaciology, Geomorphodynamics and Geochronology, Dep. of Geography, Univ., Zurich, Suisse

CLAGUE, J.J.

Dep. of earth Sciences, Simon Fraser Univ., BC, Vancouver, Canada

KORUP, O.

Earth and Environmental Sciences, Univ., Potsdam, Allemagne

Description :
The AA. analyze a series of catastrophic slope failures that occurred in the mountains of Europe, the Americas, and the Caucasus since the end of the 1990s. They distinguish between rock and ice avalanches, debris flows from de-glaciated areas, and landslides that involve dynamic interactions with glacial and river processes. Analysis of these events indicates several important controls on slope stability in high mountains, including : the non-linear response of firn and ice to warming; three-dimensional warming of subsurface bedrock and its relation to site geology; de-glaciation accompanied by exposure of new sediment; and combined short-term effects of precipitation and temperature. Three mechanisms that can significantly alter landslide magnitude and frequency, and thus hazard under warming conditions are proposed.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2012, vol. 37, n°. 1, p. 77-91, nombre de pages : 15, Références bibliographiques : 3 p.

Date :
2012

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

Langue :
Anglais