Articles | Volume 11, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-567-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-567-2017
Research article
 | 
16 Feb 2017
Research article |  | 16 Feb 2017

Quantifying irreversible movement in steep, fractured bedrock permafrost on Matterhorn (CH)

Samuel Weber, Jan Beutel, Jérome Faillettaz, Andreas Hasler, Michael Krautblatter, and Andreas Vieli

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Cited articles

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Short summary
We present a 8-year continuous time series of measured fracture kinematics and thermal conditions on steep permafrost bedrock at Hörnligrat, Matterhorn. Based on this unique dataset and a conceptual model for strong fractured bedrock, we develop a novel quantitative approach that allows to separate reversible from irreversible fracture kinematics and assign the dominant forcing. A new index of irreversibility provides useful indication for the occurrence and timing of irreversible displacements.