GROSSES GUFER (VS)

Active rock glacier

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Elevation: 2340-2650m - Massif: Bernese Alps (Aletsch) - Commune: Bettmeralp (VS)

The Grosses Gufer rock glacier is one of the first rock glaciers in the Swiss Alps where the kinematical behaviour has been investigated by means of photogrammetry based on air-borne images (Messerli and Zurbuchen 1968). At that time (1950-1962) the rock glacier was moving maximally at a rate of 0.75 m/year. In situ monitoring started again in 2009. The terminal part of the rock glacier is now moving several meters per year. The site is part of the national permafrost monitoring network PERMOS as a “kinematics” site.

 

  • Measurements and observations

    Thermal (ground surface temperature : GST)
    Geodetic (GNSS)

  • Figures

    Measured horizontal flow field (mean annual velocity).

     

     

    Annual 3D surface velocity. Mean of a set of points in the selected parts of the rock glacier.

     

     

    3D surface velocity derived from permanent GPS.

     

     

    Daily ground surface temperature (GST) in selected measurement locations on the rock glacier.

     

     

    Mean annual ground surface temperature (MAGST) in selected measurement locations on the rock glacier.

     

     

    Contribution of the Ground Freezing and Ground Thawing Indexes to the mean annual ground surface temperature (MAGST) on a set of selected locations (n) on the rock glacier. Or : how cold was the winter and how warm was the summer at the surface of the rock glacier ?

     

     

    Mean annual dates of the start and end of the snowmelt period (zero curtain phase). Mean of n sensors localized on permafrost terrain.

     

     

  • Collaboration
  • Publications

    PERMOS 2019. Permafrost in Switzerland 2014/2015 to 2017/2018. Noetzli, J., Pellet, C., and Staub, B. (eds.), Glaciological Report (Permafrost) No. 16-19 of the Cryospheric Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences, 104 pp, DOI:10.13093/permos-rep-2019-16-19.  

    PERMOS (2016). Permafrost in Switzerland 2010/2011 to 2013/2014. Noetzli, J., Luethi, R., and Staub, B. (eds.), Glaciological Report (Permafrost) No. 12-15 of the Cryospheric Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences, 85 pp.  (pdf)  

    Messerli, B. and Zurbuchen, M. (1968). Blockgletscher im Weissmies und Aletsch und ihre photogrammetrische Kartierung. Die Alpen 3 : 139-152.