The Influence of Air Temperature on the Creep Behaviour of Three Rockglaciers in the Hohe Tauern

Graz

2010

S. 159-170

Artikel aus einer Zeitschrift

200172696

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the link between air temperature and the creep behaviour of three active rockglaciers. These are the Doesen, Hinteres Langtalkar and Weissenkar rockglacier, which are all located in the Hohe Tauern range, Eastern Alps, Austria. The surface motion of the investigated rockglaciers was measured using photogrammetric and geodetic methods. Exact annual displacement rates of at least the last ten years are the basis of this study. A comparison and analysis of the horizontal and vertical displacement rates revealed a rather homogenous and synchronous behaviour of the three rockglaciers despite their different size, morphology, complexity and mean annual velocity. The observed homogeneity led to the assumption that interannual variations are caused by external climatic factors. The horizontal displacement rates show a fairly clear correlation with variations in mean annual air temperature (MAAT) with a delay of about a year caused by their delayed propagation deeper into grounds. However, the vertical displacement rates seem to react quicker to the MAAT. Furthermore, the horizontal displacement rate of the Hinteres Langtalkar rockglacier is exemplary compared to the ice thickness change of the Goessnitzkees, a nearby small debris-covered cirque glacier. The objective is to show similarities between them, as this also indicates the dependency of flow velocities of rockglaciers on air temperature.