Mass-movements in cold and Polar climates often involve permafrost and ice and hence these two phenomena are recurring themes throughout this chapter. We consider specifically mass movements in glacial, periglacial and paraglacial settings. For each environmental setting we describe the types of mass movement that have been documented in the literature, describing the current research foci and remaining challenges. We specifically highlight that mass-movements in cold and Polar climates are particularly sensitive to climate change, because of the involvement of permafrost and ice in their triggering and dynamics and therefore we may anticipate an increasing frequency and increased hazard from these phenomena in the future in response to unprecedented rates of environmental change.

/pdf/mass-movements-in-cold-and-polar-climates-3gsl1v4gqa.pdf

Mass-Movements in Cold and Polar Climates

The following book entitled “Understanding and Reducing Landslide Disaster Risk Reduction” was recently published by Springer as part of the book series “Catastrophic Landslides and Frontiers of Landslide Science”. This aims to present this title to the wider landslide society and to link the research activities published under the International Consortium on Landslides with the Kyoto Landslide Commitment.

Catastrophic landslides and frontiers of landslide science


 The eastern slope of Garmaksla, a flat-topped mountain at the western margin of Billefjorden, Svalbard, is affected by mass movements of different types. Rotational rock slides, rock fall and a rock avalanche affecting the coastal cliff are shallow surface expressions covering a larger rock mass instability that is bordered to the west by the Balliolbreen Fault. This structural feature is part of the Billefjorden Fault Zone and accommodated multi-phase deformation since Devonian time. Based on a comprehensive morpho-structural analysis, the mapped surface features and rock slope failures are explained by a compound rock slide model that reveals a litho-structural control on the type and mechanism of slope instability. The Balliolbreen fault serves as an inherited zone of weakness that is re-activated as the rear rupture surface of the rock slide. In addition, favorably oriented bedding planes and pre-existing fault zones serve as prime conditioning factors for the compound rock slide. A postglacial age of at least 6 ka is derived from
 14
 C dated sediments of Garmaksla Lake, a perennial sag pond along the main scarp. While the current state of activity of the compound rock slide is unclear, an increase of shallow slope instabilities is expected due to climate warming.


Litho-structural control on rock slope failures at Garmaksla, Billefjorden coastline, Svalbard.

Mass-movements in cold and Polar climates often involve permafrost and ice and hence these two phenomena are recurring themes throughout this chapter. We consider specifically mass movements in glacial, periglacial and paraglacial settings. For each environmental setting we describe the types of mass movement that have been documented in the literature, describing the current research foci and remaining challenges. We specifically highlight that mass-movements in cold and Polar climates are particularly sensitive to climate change, because of the involvement of permafrost and ice in their triggering and dynamics and therefore we may anticipate an increasing frequency and increased hazard from these phenomena in the future in response to unprecedented rates of environmental change. 

/pdf/mass-movements-in-cold-and-polar-climates-372kbrno.pdf

Landslides are important components of global geoheritage, but awareness of their significance and value in such terms seems scanty in the scientific community. Landslides are normally identified among various features of geological and geomorphological interest, and often considered a source of hazard. However, they are seldom identified as geosites and as part of geoheritage. This paper aims at filling these gaps by highlighting the importance of landslides in the global geoheritage. After a short introduction on the values and criteria to define landforms as geosites, based on literature review, we show to what extent landslides have been defined as geomorphosites and as part of geoheritage around the world. We then outline three aspects that should be specifically considered in the identification of landslides as geomorphosites, namely 1) past and present climate changes, 2) anthropic signature, and 3) risk perception. Finally, we describe four cases of spectacular landslides that serve as significant examples worldwide.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.864760/pdf

Landslides, a Key Landform in the Global Geological Heritage

The coastal ridge of Forkastningsfjellet comprises a ~100 million m3 rock rotational slide, which occurred in the hangingwall of a listric, northwest-dipping slide surface, probably in postglacial times. Active mass wasting and seacliff erosion, mainly controlled by the inherent discontinuities of the fractured and tilted rock masses, currently take place along the steep slopes of the coastal tilt blocks. A catastrophic reactivation of such slide blocks as very rapid rock slide could have severe consequences for the surrounding coastal regions and for Longyearbyen, the capital of Spitsbergen, which is situated nearby. This paper introduces the present knowledge about the rock slide and describes the current multidisciplinary investigation program that is conducted to better understand the nature and state of activity of the rock slide. The investigation is necessary to improve the hazard assessment of Forkastningsfjellet rock slide, which also serves as a showcase for the impact of climate change on landslide activity in the Longyearbyen region.

Forkastningsfjellet Rock Slide, Spitsbergen: State of Activity in a Changing Climate

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Forkastningsfjellet Rock Slide, Spitsbergen: State of Activity in a Changing Climate