The role of thermokarst evolution in debris flow initiation (Hüttekar Rock Glacier, Austrian Alps)

Abstract 3 that was partly drained by excavation to prevent a potentially catastrophic outburst flood. We present a systematic analysis of destabilizing factors to deduce the failure mechanism. The identification and evaluation of individual factors reveals a critical combination of topographical and sedimentological disposition, climate, and weather patterns driving the evolution of a thermokarst drainage network. Progressively changing groundwater flow and storage patterns within the frozen sediment accumulation governed the slope stability of the rock glacier front. Our results demonstrate the hazard potential of active rock glaciers due to their large amount of mobilizable sediment, dynamically changing internal structure, thermokarst lake development, and substantial water flow along a rapidly evolving channel network.

Location
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
Extent
Online-Ressource
Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
The role of thermokarst evolution in debris flow initiation (Hüttekar Rock Glacier, Austrian Alps) ; volume:23 ; number:7 ; year:2023 ; pages:2547-2568 ; extent:22
Natural hazards and earth system sciences ; 23, Heft 7 (2023), 2547-2568 (gesamt 22)

Creator
Seelig, Simon
Wagner, Thomas
Krainer, Karl
Avian, Michael
Olefs, Marc
Haslinger, Klaus
Winkler, Gerfried

DOI
10.5194/nhess-23-2547-2023
URN
urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023072704323189387933
Rights
Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
Last update
14.08.2025, 10:53 AM CEST

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Associated

  • Seelig, Simon
  • Wagner, Thomas
  • Krainer, Karl
  • Avian, Michael
  • Olefs, Marc
  • Haslinger, Klaus
  • Winkler, Gerfried

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