Journal
PERMAFROST AND PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES
Volume 22, Issue 3, Pages 254-265Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/ppp.730
Keywords
periglacial debris flows; mapping; permafrost degradation; spatial modelling
Categories
Funding
- Abenis Alpinexpert GmbH
- EU
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The possible influence of permafrost degradation on the formation of debris flows in an area of the South Tyrolean Alps, Italy, was examined by comparing debris flow activity since 1983 with the modelled contemporary permafrost distribution. The study focused on the spatial congruence of new initiation zones and potentially marginal permafrost, which should be especially sensitive to climatic change and is presumed to be currently degrading. The results show that distinct changes in the spatial position of debris flow initiation areas mainly occurred at elevations above this marginal zone. Consequently, the changes detected in debris flow activity do not appear to have been influenced by atmospheric warming-induced degradation of permafrost. However, a link may exist to the thickening of the active layer caused by the melting of a glacier. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available