Propensione all'instabilità del versante orientale delle Grandes Murailles e variazioni multitemporali del Ghiacciaio di Mont Tabel

A co-tutored Msc thesis by Earth Science Dept-University of Torino and the research group GeoClimAlp- CNR-IRPI analyzed the relationships between slope instability and cryosphere evolution in an area of Grandes Murailles. A classification of bedrock's rheology was carried out according to the criteria of "Lithofacies Map for Slope Instability Analysis (by IFFI and "RiskNat" Project) integrated by a characterisation of geomorphology of the area. Interpretation is based on field data and aerial photography. Using historical imagery and digital orthophotos, evolution of glacial and periglacial environments was also analyzed. Beyond chronological reconstruction of landslides, a map was created for showing area changes of Mont Tabel Glacier since Little Ice Age (about 1850) with particular details between 1954 and 2012. Permafrost occurrence in the area was detected by means of the Alpine Permafrost Index Map (Boeckli et al., 2012). Correlation between geological/geomorphological features and stages of cryosphere's evolution allowed formulation of hypothesis on future changes in the geomorphological landscape of the area affected by the ongoing climate change.