Articles | Volume 8, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-753-2020
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-753-2020
Research article
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11 Sep 2020
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 11 Sep 2020

A 6-year lidar survey reveals enhanced rockwall retreat and modified rockfall magnitudes/frequencies in deglaciating cirques

Ingo Hartmeyer, Markus Keuschnig, Robert Delleske, Michael Krautblatter, Andreas Lang, Lothar Schrott, Günther Prasicek, and Jan-Christoph Otto

Data sets

Rockfall Source Areas, Kitzsteinhorn, Austria (2011-2017) I. Hartmeyer, R. Delleske, M. Keuschnig, and M. Krautblatter https://doi.org/10.14459/2020mp1540134

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Short summary
Rockfall size and frequency in two deglaciating cirques in the Central Alps, Austria, is analysed based on 6-year rockwall monitoring with terrestrial lidar (2011–2017). The erosion rates derived from this dataset are very high due to a frequent occurrence of large rockfalls in freshly deglaciated areas. The results obtained are important for rockfall hazard assessments, as, in rockwalls affected by glacier retreat, historical rockfall patterns are not good predictors of future events.