Regional Mountain Conference

Rock fall events in alpine regions are increasing in frequency and intensity. Triggers such as extreme precipitation, freeze–thaw cycles, glacier retreat, and permafrost
degradation are expected to intensify due to climate change. These processes pose an immense risk to communities and infrastructure, underlining the need for research and monitoring in highly developed mountain regions such as the Alps.

We present a new in-situ rock-slope laboratory at the Stubai Glacier, initiated during the CAUTION project, which enables long-term monitoring of rock-slope behavior, specifically rock temperatures and their fluctuations in steep rock faces affected by glacier retreat and thawing permafrost. The laboratory is located along the Bildstöckljoch–Eisjoch–Schaufeljoch–Schaufelspitze ridge at an elevation of 3100–3200 m. A total of 13 temperature loggers were drilled 20–100 cm deep into the rock, targeting near-surface rock thermal conditions. The set-up spans all major slope expositions. Additional sensors were installed in the glacier’s randkluft, an area undergoing significant change. Installed in June 2023, the system provides continuous near-surface rock-temperature measurements at 10-minute intervals.

The data provides insights into daily and seasonal temperature variability, including differences related to slope orientation and distance to the glacier. These measurements are combined with high-resolution deformation-monitoring results and episodic remote-sensing campaigns, enabling detailed investigations. Additionally, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights equipped with thermal infrared cameras are used to map rock-surface temperatures. This provides further insights into spatial temperature variability and is linked with the in-situ rock-temperature data.

The initiative aims to generate long-term datasets that will be made publicly accessible, further expanding the Austrian permafrost monitoring network and improving data on rock-slope stability. Additionally, it will enhance general knowledge about the impacts of changing temperatures in high-mountain regions.