Rockglaciers of the Engadine

Abstract

The Engadine is one of the rockglacier hot spots in the European Alps. Many rockglaciers in all states of activity (active, inactive, relict) are found, indicating the former and present occurrence of permafrost. This is due to continental climate conditions, high elevation, and high weathering rates. Rockglaciers are developed in valley bottoms, such as the Val Sassa and the Val da l’Acqua rockglacier, or in formerly glaciated cirques, such as the Muragl or the Murtèl rockglacier. Hence, the Engadine is the home of research on rockglaciers in Europe with the first studies on rockglaciers of the Swiss National Park one century ago. Engadine was also the first place in the world where boreholes in rockglaciers were drilled in 1987. Nowadays, several Engadine rockglaciers are monitored within the Permafrost Monitoring Network Switzerland (PERMOS).