[{"pid":"wsl:38320","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:38320","citation":{"WSL":"Prakash N., Bickel V.T., Manconi A. (2025) Mapping landslides on earth, moon, and mars using satellite imagery and deep learning techniques. In I. Șandric, V. Ilinca, & Z. Chitu (Eds.), Earth observation applications to landslide mapping, monitoring and modeling. Cutting-edge approaches with artificial intelligence, aerial and satellite imagery. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 147-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823868-4.00008-8"},"doi":"10.1016/B978-0-12-823868-4.00008-8","abstract":"Landslides are the downward and outward movement of slope-forming (geological) materials under the influence of gravity. These mass movements are observed on Earth and other planetary bodies like Mercury, Venus, and Mars, and small bodies like the Moon, dwarf planet Ceres, and asteroid Vesta. A map showing the spatial distribution of landslides (also called a landslide inventory) is typically created to understand the landform evolution, preconditioning factors, and associated hazards. However organizing a field mapping campaign for generating an inventory is a slow process and might even be difficult or impossible due to the associated logistical challenges. This has encouraged the use of aerial photographs and satellite images (mid to high resolution) as the preferred data source for landslide mapping. This approach was further supported by an increasing number of remote sensing satellite launches, which has exponentially increased the availability of suitable optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Recent satellites like the European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-1 and -2 provide access to systematically acquired Earth observation free of cost to the users. Large commercial constellations, like that of PlanetScope’s satellites, can image the entire land surface of the Earth every day at approximately 3 m spatial resolution. Similarly, ICEYE and Capella satellite constellation have plans to provide X-band SAR images acquired at a much higher temporal resolution allowing for multiple acquisitions in one day. Data acquired by the increasing number of lunar and Martian orbiters like NASA’s Lunar and Martian Reconnaissance Orbiters (LRO and MRO) have enabled detailed landslide mapping efforts focused on our planetary neighbors."},{"pid":"wsl:38418","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:38418","citation":{"WSL":"Aasen H., Alselmetti F., Bachmann O., Bouffard D., Buchmann N., Bühler Y., Schaub M. (2024) Geosciences community roadmap 2024. Update of Swiss community needs for research infrastructures 2029–2032. (Swiss Academies reports, Report No.: 19/8). Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). 36 p. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14264991"},"doi":"10.5281/zenodo.14264991","abstract":"Swiss geosciences are at the heart of major national and global challenges that our society is facing, including climate change and weather extremes, long-term environmental trends, natural hazards (e.g. landslides, floods,
seismic and volcanic events), the energy transition towards a green and blue economy, sustainable management of natural resources (e.g. water, soils, ecosystems, critical metals, building materials), and the increasing interest
towards extra-terrestrial life and resources. In order to remain at the forefront of geosciences research and provide the fertile environment necessary for groundbreaking findings addressing these societal challenges, the Swiss Geosciences Community proposes five large infrastructures, organised into four pillars built on a common datadriven research foundation. [...]"},{"pid":"wsl:37989","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:37989","citation":{"WSL":"Bartelt P., Stoffel L., Christen M., Bühler Y. (2024) Grain flow theory and snow avalanche rheology. In K. Gisnås, P. Gauer, H. Dahle, M. Eckerstorfer, A. Mannberg, & K. Müller (Eds.), Proceedings of the international Snow Science Workshop 2024. Oslo: Norwegian Geotechnical Institute. 360-365. "},"doi":"","abstract":"This paper explores the application of grain flow theory to snow avalanche dynamics, focusing on the interrelation between shear stress and fluctuation energy. The study employs a system of differential equations to model the mean velocity (U) and fluctuation energy (R) within snow avalanches. The key physical constraint highlighted is the relationship dR · S = −R₀ · dS, which provides a physical constraint on the omplex relationship between avalanche shear stress and the production of fluctuation energy. When fluctuation energy is produced by shearing, it generates not only directionless random kinetic energy but also directional energy fluxes that alter the configuration of the granular ensemble, leading to changes in shear stress. The analysis of the R-U phase plane reveals that avalanche behavior can be characterized by equilibrium points that shift with slope angle, highlighting the role of fluctuation energy in determining the flow regime. The R-U phase plane not only advances our understanding of avalanche dynamics but also facilitates the examination of flow regime transitions, driven by changes in the potential energy of the granular ensemble, and the emergence of different avalanche types."},{"pid":"wsl:37776","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:37776","citation":{"WSL":"Bartelt P., McArdell B., Bühler Y., Graf C. (2024) Zweiphasenmodellierung von Murgängen für die Überprüfung von Schutzmassnahmen. In I. Schalko, D. Farshi, & A. Badoux (Eds.), WSL Berichte: Vol. 155. Fachtagung Wildbäche 2024: Modellierung von Wildbachprozessen. Birmensdorf: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL. 49-58. https://doi.org/10.55419/wsl:37776"},"doi":"10.55419/wsl:37776","abstract":"Die Ereignisse Ende Juni 2024 haben gezeigt, dass neue, konsistente Methoden zur Bewertung von Murgang- Schutzmassnahmen benötigt werden. Die Wahl geeigneter Gefahrenszenarien und die Modellierung der Murgänge sind zentral, um Schutzmassnahmen effektiv zu planen. Ein neues numerisches Zwei-Schichten-Modell, das feste und flüssige Phasen trennt, wurde eingesetzt, um die komplexe Dynamik von Murgängen besser nachzubilden. Zwei Fallstudien im Val Greva (GR) und in Sorte (GR) zeigen realistische Ergebnisse und verdeutlichen die Bedeutung der Erosion für die Mobilität von Murgängen. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass künftige Schutzmassnahmen differenziertere Informationen zum Fliessverhalten erfordern. Eine stetige Verbesserung der Modelle durch eine gründliche Analyse vergangener Ereignisse ist entscheidend, um die Genauigkeit und Zuverlässigkeit der Gefahrenbewertung zu gewährleisten."},{"pid":"wsl:37532","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:37532","citation":{"WSL":"Bast A., Bründl M., Phillips M. (2024) CCAMM - A research program for studying the impacts of climate change on mass movements in alpine regions. In J. Schneider (Ed.), Interpraevent 2024. Conference proceedings. Klagenfurt: Interpraevent. 37-39. "},"doi":"","abstract":"According to various projections, climate change will alter the disposition for alpine mass movements, as well as their dynamics and the interaction of gravitational processes in process cascades. This will change the risks that people living in mountain regions are exposed to. The research program CCAMM - Climate Change Impacts on Alpine Mass Movements – initiated by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, fosters inter- and transdisciplinary research and thus addresses a socially relevant question and provides an important contribution to climate change adaptation of society. In this contribution, we provide an overview of the 22 projects and the envisioned outreach activities in 2025."},{"pid":"wsl:37174","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:37174","citation":{"WSL":"Bast A., Kenner R., Phillips M. (2024) Short-term cooling, drying, and deceleration of an ice-rich rock glacier. Cryosphere. 18(7), 3141-3158. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3141-2024"},"doi":"10.5194/tc-18-3141-2024","abstract":"Observations in the European Alps show a long-term rise in rock glacier velocities, which is often associated with increased air and ground temperatures and, more recently, water content. Long-term rock glacier acceleration is superimposed by a high interannual variability of the velocity with a particular gap in the quantitative assessment of the role of water in rock glacier kinematics and the factors leading to short-term rock glacier deceleration.
To address this research gap, we drilled three vertical boreholes in the Schafberg rock glacier, Swiss Alps, in August 2020. We documented their stratigraphy and equipped one of the boreholes with temperature sensors and piezometers and the other two with cross-borehole electrodes for electrical resistivity tomography measurements. Rock glacier velocities were determined using repeated terrestrial laser scans. Using data from an additional borehole and nearby weather stations and ground surface temperature sensors, we analysed the interactions between meteorological and subsurface conditions during a rock glacier deceleration period, from January 2021 to July 2023.
Our findings show that a lowering of the water content in rock glacier shear horizons is crucial for interannual rock glacier deceleration. The impact of the snowpack, both as an insulator and as a water source, is significant for rock glacier kinematics. Winters with little snow and relatively dry summers appear to be ideal for rock glacier cooling and drying, leading to deceleration. Summer heat waves have limited impact on rock glacier velocity if they are preceded by snow-poor winters.
Our study uses an innovative combination of borehole data to gain insights into rock glacier temperatures and water contents, allowing us to detect relative changes in ice and/or water contents in ice-rich permafrost. The monitoring techniques used have the potential to contribute to a better understanding of the main drivers of rock glacier kinematics and water availability."},{"pid":"wsl:38242","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:38242","citation":{"WSL":"Bast A., Pavoni M., Lichtenegger M., Buckel J., Boaga J. (2024) The use of textile electrodes for electrical resistivity tomography in periglacial, coarse blocky terrain: a comparison with conventional steel electrodes. Permafr. Periglac. Process. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.2257"},"doi":"10.1002/ppp.2257","abstract":"Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is widely used to map, characterize, and monitor the ground in alpine and periglacial environments, where coarse blocky surfaces are often ubiquitous. ERT measurements typically use conventional steel electrodes in combination with a water-soaked sponge. However, ensuring an optimum contact resistance between the electrodes and the ground to obtain high-quality data is often challenging and requires considerable logistical, physical, and time commitment. To overcome this, we tested a promising sand-filled, fist-sized conductive textile electrode. We conducted ERT measurements using both steel and textile electrodes at a landslide and two rock glaciers in the European Alps with coarse blocky surfaces and performed statistical analyses to test the accuracy and precision of the proposed textile electrodes. Our results show that the textile electrodes can be used as an alternative to the conventional steel electrodes without limitations, as they ensure good galvanic contact with the ground and accurate resistivity measurements. The use of textile electrodes also resulted in lower contact resistances, less time invested, physical and logistical advantages, and reduced risk of injury. In the future, this will enable applications such as enhanced ERT monitoring and/or faster (quasi-3D) imaging of the interior of entire landforms."},{"pid":"wsl:37737","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:37737","citation":{"WSL":"Bebi P., Wohlgemuth T. (2024) Herausforderungen bei der Erhaltung von Schutzwäldern. Montagna Z. Berggeb. 34(8/9), 12-13. "},"doi":"","abstract":"Gebirgswälder erfüllen zahlreiche Funktionen. Sie sind Lebensraum für Pflanzen- und Tierarten, tragen zur Kohlenstoffspeicherung bei, laden zur Erholung ein und liefern Bau- und Energieholz. Unverzichtbar ist ihre Rolle als natürlicher Schutz vor Steinschlag, Lawinen und Erdrutschen. Seit dem Forstpolizeigesetz von 1876, das den Grundsatz der Nachhaltigkeit einführte, haben Fläche und Dichte der Bergwälder zugenommen. Heute sind diese Wälder im Rahmen des globalen Wandels einer neuen Dynamik unterworfen, in welcher wärmere Temperaturen, Dürren und Winterstürme, aber auch Holzpreise grosse Herausforderungen darstellen, die Waldfunktionen zu erhalten."},{"pid":"wsl:37999","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:37999","citation":{"WSL":"Blatny L., Gray J.M.N.T., Gaume J. (2024) A critical state μ(I)-rheology model for cohesive granular flows. J. Fluid Mech. 997, A67 (46 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2024.643"},"doi":"10.1017/jfm.2024.643","abstract":"The dynamic behaviour of granular media can be observed widely in nature and in many industrial processes. Yet, the modelling of such media remains challenging as they may act with solid-like and fluid-like properties depending on the rate of the flow and can display a varying apparent friction, cohesion and compressibility. Over the last two decades, the μ(I)-rheology has become well established for modelling granular liquids in a fluid mechanics framework where the apparent friction μ depends on the inertial number I. In the geo-mechanics community, modelling the deformation of granular solids typically relies on concepts from critical state soil mechanics. Along the lines of recent attempts to combine critical state and the μ(I)-rheology, we develop a continuum model based on modified cam-clay in an elastoplastic framework which recovers the μ(I)-rheology under flow. This model permits a treatment of plastic compressibility in systems with or without cohesion, where the cohesion is assumed to be the result of persistent inter-granular attractive forces. Implemented in a two- and three-dimensional material point method, it allows for the trivial treatment of the free surface. The proposed model approximately reproduces analytical solutions of steady-state cohesionless flow and is further compared with previous cohesive and cohesionless experiments. In particular, satisfactory agreements with several experiments of granular collapse are demonstrated, albeit with shear bands which can affect the smoothness of the surface. Finally, the model is able to qualitatively reproduce the multiple steady-state solutions of granular flow recently observed in experiments of flow over obstacles."},{"pid":"wsl:37249","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:37249","citation":{"WSL":"Boaga J., Pavoni M., Bast A., Weber S. (2024) Brief communication: on the potential of seismic polarity reversal to identify a thin low-velocity layer above a high-velocity layer in ice-rich rock glaciers. Cryosphere. 18(7), 3231-3236. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3231-2024"},"doi":"10.5194/tc-18-3231-2024","abstract":"Seismic refraction tomography is a commonly used technique to characterise rock glaciers, as the boundary between unfrozen and ice-bearing layers represents a strong impedance contrast. In several rock glaciers, we observed a reversed polarity of the waves refracted by an extended ice-bearing layer compared to direct-wave arrivals. This phase change may be related to the presence of a thin low-velocity layer (LVL), such as fine- to coarse-grained sediments, above a thicker ice-rich layer. Our results are confirmed by the modelling and analysis of synthetic seismograms to demonstrate that the presence of a low-velocity layer can produce a polarity reversal on the seismic gather."},{"pid":"wsl:36687","object_url":"https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl:36687","citation":{"WSL":"Bobillier G., Bergfeld B., Dual J., Gaume J., van Herwijnen A., Schweizer J. (2024) Numerical investigation of crack propagation regimes in snow fracture experiments. Granul. Matter. 26(3), 58 (15 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-024-01423-5"},"doi":"10.1007/s10035-024-01423-5","abstract":"A snow slab avalanche releases after failure initiation and crack propagation in a highly porous weak snow layer buried below a cohesive slab. While our knowledge of crack propagation during avalanche formation has greatly improved over the last decades, it still remains unclear how snow mechanical properties affect the dynamics of crack propagation. This is partly due to a lack of non-invasive measurement methods to investigate the micro-mechanical aspects of the process. Using a DEM model, we therefore analyzed the influence of snow cover properties on the dynamics of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers. By focusing on the steady-state crack speed, our results showed two distinct fracture process regimes that depend on slope angle, leading to very different crack propagation speeds. For long experiments on level terrain, weak layer fracture is mainly driven by compressive stresses. Steady-state crack speed mainly depends on slab and weak layer elastic moduli as well as weak layer strength. We suggest a semi-empirical model to predict crack speed, which can be up to 0.6 times the slab shear wave speed. For long experiments on steep slopes, a supershear regime appeared, where the crack propagation speed reached approximately 1.6 times the slab shear wave speed. A detailed micro-mechanical analysis of stresses revealed a fracture principally driven by shear. Overall, our findings provide new insight into the micro-mechanics of dynamic crack propagation in snow, and how these are linked to snow cover properties."}]

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