| Details: |
Ongoing global warming is exposing mountain landscapes to probably one of the fastest warming phases in the history of the earth, with enormous consequences for the cryosphere and associated landscape dynamics. While the shrinking of glaciers is readily observed, changes in permafrost and erosion of the adjacent hillslopes are more difficult to observe. I will summarize results from the COLD project (Climate Sensitivity of Glacial Landscape Dynamics) that provide new insights into the dynamics of glacierized catchments in the European Alps. First, we will take a look at the cosmogenic nuclide inventory of medial moraines, which reflect erosion of steep rockwalls that tower above present-day glaciers. Results document temporal variations in rockwall erosion, most likely in response to glacial downwasting. Second, we will take a closer look at decadal-scale, remote sensing-derived land surface temperatures and how they have changed. Results highlight a significant thermal perturbation due to the shrinking of glacier cover with potentially important consequences for permafrost thaw and glacial landscape stability. |