Temperature variability and thermal offset in steep alpine rock and ice faces

The thermal condition of high-alpine mountain flanks can be an important determinant of climate change impact on slope stability and correspondingly down-slope hazard regimes. In this study we analyze new time-series from 17 shallow temperature-depth profiles at two field sites in steep bedrock and ice. Extending earlier studies that revealed the topographic variations in temperatures, we demonstrate considerable differences of annual mean temperatures for variable surface characteristics and depths within the measured profiles. This implies that measurements and models related to compact and near-vertical bedrock temperatures may deviate considerably from conditions in the majority of bedrock slopes in mountain ranges that are usually non-vertical and fractured. For radiation-exposed faces, for instance, mean annual temperatures at depth are up to 3 °C lower and permafrost is likely to exist at lower elevations than reflected by current estimates based on the near-vertical case. Retention of thin snow cover and ventilation effects in open clefts are most likely responsible for this cooling. The presented or similar data could be used in the future to support the development and testing of models related to the thermal influence of snow-cover and fractures in steep bedrock. This would allow generalizing the here-presented findings.