Research fields
Caracterisation and modeling of the spatial distribution of alpine permafrost
- Mapping and modelisation of the permafrost distribution in sedimentary terrains: moraine deposits, talus slopes, rock glaciers. - Characterization of frozen sediments with geophysical methods. - Study of the processes that govern the presence or a
Methods: - Geoelectric techniques, seismic refraction - Thermal methods, at the ground surface or in boreholes - Geomorphological mapping
Study of mass movements in the alpine periglacial zone
Study of the different types of movements that affect the alpine periglacial zone.
A large part of the studies concern the rock glaciers:
- Study of rock glacier kinematics and of the inter-seasonal and inter-annual variations of the velocities.
- Study of rapidly moving destabilised rock glaciers.
The studies focus also on:
- the deformation of all types of frozen sediments, e.g. frozen moraines.
- the other types of mass movements in the alpine periglacial belt: landslides, debris flows, gelifluction, etc.
Methods: GPS, Space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR), Photogrammétry, Lidar
Permafrost monitoring
Study of the reaction of permafrost to the climate warming.
- Thermal monitoring, at the ground surface and in boreholes.
- Monitoring of the electrical resistivities of the ground .
- Monitoring of the rock glacier kinematics: repeated measurement of the velocities with differential GPS.
Sediment transfers
Study of the transfer mechanisms of sediments between the alpine periglacial belt and the base of the mountain slopes.
In particular, analysis of the links between the characteristics of the alpine periglacial domain and the dynamics of debris flows.
