The permafrost degradation is a probable cause of the increase of rock instabilities and rock falls observed in recent years in high mountain areas. It causes the thaw of the ice filling rock discontinuities producing water that subsequently freezes again, inducing stresses that lead to rock falls. Rock-falls are among the most hazardous instability processes in high mountain environments because of their velocity and the difficulty to ...
One of the main challenges in the field of engineering geology is the comprehension of the triggering mechanisms of landslides and the forecast of possible evolutionary scenarios in order to assess the correct mitigation measures. Landslides can be initiated by a variety of triggers: from earthquakes to meteorological events, including intense or prolonged rainfall, rapid snow melting, and variations of the surface temperature conditions. ...
