Université de Fribourg

Wood anatomical changes in roots of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) after exposure

Hitz, Oliver M. ; Gärtner, Holger W. ; Heinrich, Ingo ; Monbaron, Michel

In: Dendrochronologia, 2008, vol. 25, no. 3, p. 145-152

Global changes have distinct influence on fluvial processes in torrents causing erosion on slopes and riverbanks even in forested areas. Continuous as well as discontinuous erosion of riverbanks covered by trees frequently results in destabilisation and finally cause the trees affected to tip over. These uprooted trees may lead to a blockage of the river and, in the case of a collapse of the...

Université de Fribourg

Application of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) roots to determine erosion rates in mountain torrents

Hitz, Oliver M. ; Gärtner, Holger W. ; Heinrich, Ingo ; Monbaron, Michel

In: Catena, 2008, vol. 72, no. 2, p. 248-258

Due to the effect of global change, the potential risk of natural hazards occurring in alpine areas is expected to increase to an even higher risk-level than has been recorded during the last century. These global changes potentially also have distinct influences on fluvial processes in torrents causing erosion on slopes and riverbanks in forested areas. Dating the time of root exposure along...

Université de Fribourg

Tension wood formed in Fagus sylvatica and Alnus glutinosa after simulated mass movement events

Heinrich, Ingo ; Gärtner, Holger W. ; Monbaron, Michel

In: IAWA Journal, 2007, vol. 28, no. 1, p. 39-48

Due to the likelihood of global climate change, the frequency and magnitude of natural hazards such as mass movements may likewise change, thus favouring the refinement of methods to detect and quantify geomorphic events when precise records are not available. Geomorphic events typically have a significant effect on tree growth, e.g., reaction wood marked by changes in ring widths and wood...

Université de Fribourg

400 years of debris flow activity and triggering weather conditions: Ritigraben VS, Switzerland

Stoffel, Markus ; Lièvre, Igor ; Conus, Delphine ; Grichting, Michael A. ; Raetzo, Hugo ; Gärtner, Holger W. ; Monbaron, Michel

In: Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research, 2005, vol. 37(3), p. 387-395

Three major rainfall events have caused considerable damage in the Valais region (Swiss Alps) since 1987. While important debris flows originating from periglacial environments were recorded during the August 1987 and September 1993 rainfall events, no debris flows occurred in October 2000. This paper aims at putting these large area events and the apparent increase in debris flow frequency into...