ERS InSAR for Detecting Slope Movement in a Periglacial Mountain Environment (Western Valais Alps, Switzerland)

The potential of ERS InSAR for detecting slope motion in a periglacial mountain environment has been tested in the western part of the Swiss Alps. An inventory has been built from the analysis of the InSAR data. It contains a large number of areas that can be possibly attributed to various types of mass movement (glacier, debris-covered glacier, rock glacier, landslide, sagging, gelifl uction) occurring with various rates of activity above the tree line. The applied methodology is briefl y described and several typical examples of detected slope movement are illustrated.