Université de Fribourg

Thermal and mechanical responses resulting from spatial and temporal snow cover variability in permafrost rock slopes, steintaelli, swiss alps

Draebing, Daniel ; Haberkorn, Anna ; Krautblatter, Michael ; Kenner, Robert ; Phillips, Marcia

In: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 2017, vol. 28, no. 1, p. 140–157

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of snow on permafrost and rock stability at the Steintaelli (Swiss Alps). Snow depth distribution was observed using terrestrial laser scanning and time-lapse photography. The influence of snow on the rock thermal regime was investigated using near-surface rock temperature measurements, seismic refraction tomography and one-dimensional...

Université de Fribourg

Seasonally intermittent water flow through deep fractures in an Alpine Rock Ridge: Gemsstock, Central Swiss Alps

Phillips, Marcia ; Haberkorn, , Anna ; Draebing, Daniel ; Krautblatter, Michael ; Rhyner, Hansueli ; Kenner, Robert

In: Cold Regions Science and Technology, 2016, vol. 125, p. 117–127

Geological investigations and seismic refraction tomography reveal a series of 70° steep, parallel and continuous fractures at 2950 m asl within the Gemsstock rock ridge (Central Swiss Alps), at the lower fringe of alpine permafrost. Temperature measurements in a 40 m horizontal borehole through the base of the ridge show that whilst conductive heat transfer dominates within the rock mass,...