Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland
The details and the consequences of the recent retreat of Triftgletscher (Gadmertal, Bernese Alps, Switzerland) have been investigated. Geodetic volume changes indicate a strong decrease since 1929 while the position of the terminus remained practically unchanged until 1990. The role played by calvi...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2011-08-01
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Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
Online Access: | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/11/2149/2011/nhess-11-2149-2011.pdf |
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author | P. Dalban Canassy A. Bauder M. Dost R. Fäh M. Funk S. Margreth B. Müller S. Sugiyama |
author_facet | P. Dalban Canassy A. Bauder M. Dost R. Fäh M. Funk S. Margreth B. Müller S. Sugiyama |
author_sort | P. Dalban Canassy |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The details and the consequences of the recent retreat of Triftgletscher (Gadmertal, Bernese Alps, Switzerland) have been investigated. Geodetic volume changes indicate a strong decrease since 1929 while the position of the terminus remained practically unchanged until 1990. The role played by calving in the tongue retreat running from 2000 to 2006 is confirmed by means of a mass balance model including a calving criterion. Results show that without calving, it would have taken two years longer for the lake to form than has been observed. The consequences of the ensuing tongue destabilization are surveyed, first with an ice avalanche model and second with a hydraulic study of the potential impulse wave triggered by the impact of the falling ice mass in the lake. Results point out that ice avalanches with volumes greater that 1 &times; 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> will flow into the lake and that in the worst scenario, a discharge of 400 m<sup>3</sup> s<sup>&minus;1</sup> is expected to reach the endangered area in Gadmertal 11 min after the break-off. In order to detect surface motion precursors to such ice avalanches, a photographic monitoring system was installed. The results indicate seasonal variations with peak velocity in summer and no significant change during the other months. Spectacular velocity increases were not observed so far. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:45:27Z |
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id | doaj.art-9f5ce174bcaa4f0dac32466e517cc479 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:45:27Z |
publishDate | 2011-08-01 |
publisher | Copernicus Publications |
record_format | Article |
series | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
spelling | doaj.art-9f5ce174bcaa4f0dac32466e517cc4792022-12-22T03:08:04ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812011-08-011182149216210.5194/nhess-11-2149-2011Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, SwitzerlandP. Dalban CanassyA. BauderM. DostR. FähM. FunkS. MargrethB. MüllerS. SugiyamaThe details and the consequences of the recent retreat of Triftgletscher (Gadmertal, Bernese Alps, Switzerland) have been investigated. Geodetic volume changes indicate a strong decrease since 1929 while the position of the terminus remained practically unchanged until 1990. The role played by calving in the tongue retreat running from 2000 to 2006 is confirmed by means of a mass balance model including a calving criterion. Results show that without calving, it would have taken two years longer for the lake to form than has been observed. The consequences of the ensuing tongue destabilization are surveyed, first with an ice avalanche model and second with a hydraulic study of the potential impulse wave triggered by the impact of the falling ice mass in the lake. Results point out that ice avalanches with volumes greater that 1 &times; 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> will flow into the lake and that in the worst scenario, a discharge of 400 m<sup>3</sup> s<sup>&minus;1</sup> is expected to reach the endangered area in Gadmertal 11 min after the break-off. In order to detect surface motion precursors to such ice avalanches, a photographic monitoring system was installed. The results indicate seasonal variations with peak velocity in summer and no significant change during the other months. Spectacular velocity increases were not observed so far.http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/11/2149/2011/nhess-11-2149-2011.pdf |
spellingShingle | P. Dalban Canassy A. Bauder M. Dost R. Fäh M. Funk S. Margreth B. Müller S. Sugiyama Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
title | Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland |
title_full | Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland |
title_fullStr | Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland |
title_full_unstemmed | Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland |
title_short | Hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in Triftgletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland |
title_sort | hazard assessment investigations due to recent changes in triftgletscher bernese alps switzerland |
url | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/11/2149/2011/nhess-11-2149-2011.pdf |
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