Mountain permafrost — research frontiers and a special long-term challenge

• Published in: Cold regions science and technology 2013-12, Vol.96, p.71-76
• Main Author: Haeberli, Wilfried
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate change; High mountains; Natural hazards; Permafrost; Slope stability
• ISSN: 0165-232X; 1872-7441
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2013.02.004

Advanced methodologies such as core drilling, borehole logging/monitoring, geophysical tomography, high-precision photogrammetry, laser altimetry, GPS/SAR surveying, miniature temperature data logging, geotechnical laboratory analyses, numerical modelling, or GIS-based simulation of spatial distribution patterns in complex topography at regional to global scales have created a rapidly increasing knowledge basis concerning permafrost in cold mountain ranges. Based on a keynote presentation about mountain permafrost at CFG8 in Obergurgl 2012, a brief summary is provided concerning primary research frontiers and the long-term challenge related to the increasing probability of far-reaching flood waves in high-mountain regions originating at newly forming lakes as a consequence of large rock falls and landslides from destabilising steep rock walls with conditions of warming and degrading permafrost often in combination with de-buttressing by vanishing glaciers. Research is especially intense in the densely populated European Alps. ► Research on mountain permafrost is making rapid progress. ► Models of mountain permafrost occurrence are available at regional to global scales. ► The probability of floods from rock avalanches into mountain lakes is increasing.