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Investigating the slope failures at the Lou rock glacier front, French Alps

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Marcer
  • Steffen Ringsø Nielsen
  • Charles Ribeyre
  • Mario Kummert
  • Pierre‐Allain Duvillard
  • Philippe Schoeneich
  • Xavier Bodin
  • Kim Genuite

Abstract

On August 14 th 2015 a large debris flow initiated by the occurrence of two slope failures at the front of the Lou rock glacier flooded part of the town of Lanslevillard, France. The present study aims to understand the meteorological and geomorphological context that led to these failures. Investigations were conducted by combining meteorological data, surface movements, and geophysical transects. The analysis indicates that the Lou rock glacier is directly connected to an active torrential channel and has a natural predisposition to frontal failure due to the steepness of its front. The slope failures were triggered after a heat wave followed by a three‐week period of almost continuous rainfall. Water flowing on top of the permafrost table was observed in the two head scarps, suggesting that regressive erosion consecutive to this concentrated subsurface water flow triggered the failures. For one of the slides, traces of previous failures were observable on historical aerial imagery dating back to the 1950's, while the second slide corresponded to a novel event and developed on the frontal slope of a fast‐moving and destabilized rock glacier lobe. We also discuss the increase in local predisposition to failure related to the remarkable morphological modifications such as frontal advance and development of surface cracks associated with the lobe destabilization.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Marcer & Steffen Ringsø Nielsen & Charles Ribeyre & Mario Kummert & Pierre‐Allain Duvillard & Philippe Schoeneich & Xavier Bodin & Kim Genuite, 2020. "Investigating the slope failures at the Lou rock glacier front, French Alps," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 15-30, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:perpro:v:31:y:2020:i:1:p:15-30
    DOI: 10.1002/ppp.2035
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandro Cicoira & Marco Marcer & Isabelle Gärtner‐Roer & Xavier Bodin & Lukas U. Arenson & Andreas Vieli, 2021. "A general theory of rock glacier creep based on in‐situ and remote sensing observations," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(1), pages 139-153, January.

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