Articles | Volume 10, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-605-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-605-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
24 Jun 2022
Research article |
| 24 Jun 2022
| 24 Jun 2022
Alpine rock glacier activity over Holocene to modern timescales (western French Alps)
CNRS, EDYTEM, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 73000, Chambéry, France
INSTAAR and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Robert S. Anderson
INSTAAR and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Xavier Bodin
CNRS, EDYTEM, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 73000, Chambéry, France
Diego Cusicanqui
CNRS, EDYTEM, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 73000, Chambéry, France
CNRS, IRD, IGE, Université Grenoble Alpes, CS 40700
38 058 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France
Pierre G. Valla
CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 38000, Grenoble, France
Julien Carcaillet
CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 38000, Grenoble, France
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Cited
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Topographic primacy in rock glacier distribution revealed by GAMs and their water storage: Insights from a new polygonised inventory of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau P. Fu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026.109908
- Glacial to periglacial transition at the end of the last ice age in the subtropical semiarid Andes J. García et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109379
- Detection and reconstruction of rock glacier kinematics over 24 years (2000–2024) from Landsat imagery D. Cusicanqui et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2559-2025
- Occurrence and Characteristics of Rock Glaciers in Western Tien Shan A. Merekeyev et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030367
- Periglacial landforms and deposits from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene in the Visogno and Spluga valleys (Central Italian Alps) S. Pietrogrande et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2026.2663631
- Monitoring recent (2018–2023) glacier and rock glacier changes in Central Patagonia using high-resolution Pléiades and ALOS PRISM satellite data D. Falaschi et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2025.1601249
- Lingering beneath crumbling walls: The origin of Holocene rock glaciers R. Anderson & S. Anderson https://doi.org/10.1130/G53180.1
- Contribution of rock glacier discharge to late summer and fall streamflow in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA J. Munroe & A. Handwerger https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-543-2023
- The First Rock Glacier Inventory for the Greater Caucasus L. Tielidze et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13040117
- Annual surface elevation changes of rock glaciers and their geomorphological significance: Examples from the Swiss Alps S. Vivero & C. Lambiel https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109487
- Climate warming and the persistence of buried ice in the Pyrenees: Multi-Proxy evidence from Clots de la Menera cirque (Andorra) M. Oliva et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109564
- Geomorphological record of the glacial to periglacial transition from the Bølling–Allerød to the Holocene in the Central Pyrenees: the Lòcampo cirque in the regional context M. Fernandes et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.12633
- Improved chronological constraints for Holocene rock glacier activity in the Ben Ohau Range, Southern Alps/New Zealand S. Winkler https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836241297654
- Seasonal ice storage changes and meltwater generation at Murtèl rock glacier (Engadine, eastern Swiss Alps): estimates from measurements and energy budgets in the coarse blocky active layer D. Amschwand et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2219-2025
- Glacial - periglacial transition in the Ratera Cirque (Central Pyrenees) from the Younger Dryas to the Holocene J. Ventura et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100307
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Topographic primacy in rock glacier distribution revealed by GAMs and their water storage: Insights from a new polygonised inventory of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau P. Fu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026.109908
- Glacial to periglacial transition at the end of the last ice age in the subtropical semiarid Andes J. García et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109379
- Detection and reconstruction of rock glacier kinematics over 24 years (2000–2024) from Landsat imagery D. Cusicanqui et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2559-2025
- Occurrence and Characteristics of Rock Glaciers in Western Tien Shan A. Merekeyev et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030367
- Periglacial landforms and deposits from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene in the Visogno and Spluga valleys (Central Italian Alps) S. Pietrogrande et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2026.2663631
- Monitoring recent (2018–2023) glacier and rock glacier changes in Central Patagonia using high-resolution Pléiades and ALOS PRISM satellite data D. Falaschi et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2025.1601249
- Lingering beneath crumbling walls: The origin of Holocene rock glaciers R. Anderson & S. Anderson https://doi.org/10.1130/G53180.1
- Contribution of rock glacier discharge to late summer and fall streamflow in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA J. Munroe & A. Handwerger https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-543-2023
- The First Rock Glacier Inventory for the Greater Caucasus L. Tielidze et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13040117
- Annual surface elevation changes of rock glaciers and their geomorphological significance: Examples from the Swiss Alps S. Vivero & C. Lambiel https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109487
- Climate warming and the persistence of buried ice in the Pyrenees: Multi-Proxy evidence from Clots de la Menera cirque (Andorra) M. Oliva et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109564
- Geomorphological record of the glacial to periglacial transition from the Bølling–Allerød to the Holocene in the Central Pyrenees: the Lòcampo cirque in the regional context M. Fernandes et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.12633
- Improved chronological constraints for Holocene rock glacier activity in the Ben Ohau Range, Southern Alps/New Zealand S. Winkler https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836241297654
- Seasonal ice storage changes and meltwater generation at Murtèl rock glacier (Engadine, eastern Swiss Alps): estimates from measurements and energy budgets in the coarse blocky active layer D. Amschwand et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2219-2025
- Glacial - periglacial transition in the Ratera Cirque (Central Pyrenees) from the Younger Dryas to the Holocene J. Ventura et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100307
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 28 May 2026
Short summary
Rock glaciers are some of the most frequently occurring landforms containing ice in mountain environments. Here, we use field observations, analysis of aerial and satellite images, and dating methods to investigate the activity of the rock glacier of the Vallon de la Route in the French Alps. Our results suggest that the rock glacier is characterized by two major episodes of activity and that the rock glacier system promotes the maintenance of mountain erosion.
Rock glaciers are some of the most frequently occurring landforms containing ice in mountain...
