1. X-Sense - Monitoring Alpine Mass Movements at Multiple Scales What we are interested in… and What we have found out so far…

2. Rock Glaciers Distinctive geomorphological landforms of angular rock debris frozen in interstitial ice Downslope movement by deformation of ice contained within them  Surface resembles glaciers  Can reach lengths of 3 km, blocks on the surface up to 8 m

3. How do they work? Flow features on the surface may develop from:  Deformation of the ice core.  Movement of the debris cover along the debris-ice interface.  Deformation from a period of glacial advance.  Changes in the hydrologic balance. Growth and formation is subject to some debate, with three main theories in prominence:  A permafrost origin, which implies that the features are related to permafrost action rather than glacial action;  A mass wasting or landslide origin which does not require the presence of ice and suggests a sudden catastrophic origin with little subsequent movement.

4. In Contrast - A “Normal” Glacier

5. X-Sense Field Site Dirru Many characteristic terrain features Strong variability in behavior Initial survey by UniFR + FOEN

8. X-Sense - Why should we care?

10. X-Sense - Field Site Grabengufer Known natural hazard Actively releasing large mass volumes Significant concern to valley inhabitants, infrastructure (road, railroad, power/communication lines) and tourism industry

11. Grabengufer - BAFU Geodetic Survey

12. Displacement from 03/2009 to 08/2010

13. The Rest… A look around in Google Earth Pictures Grabengufer