Lateglacial and Holocene evolution of glaciers and permafrost in the Val Muragl , Upper Engadin , Swiss Alps

Spectacular landforms associated with permafrost creep and glacier fluctuations characterize the Val Muragl, one of the most frequently visited high-mountain valleys and tourist attractions in the St. Moritz area, Upper Engadin, eastern Swiss Alps. Combined consideration of glaciers and permafrost enhances the possibilities of understanding the landscape evolution in this area. The Val Muragl is able to constitute a large and easily accessible “geotope-site” illustrating phenomena and processes of Lateglacial, Holocene and present-day time scales. The scientific vision is based on a variety of methodological approaches such as GIS-based geomorphological mapping, reconstruction of Lateglacial and Holocene palaeoglaciers, field mapping and spatial modelling of permafrost occurrences, photogrammetric analyses, relative age dating using the Schmidt–Hammer technique, geophysical soundings, drilling and borehole investigations. The landscape evolution starts from a situation with a cold or polythermal accumulation area, covering most of the topography during full Ice-Age conditions, and leads to Lateglacial retreat stages of polythermal valley glaciers surrounded by permafrost. The Holocene situation displays repeated but spatially limited glacier advances accompanied by the development of large sediment bodies partially subjected to permafrost creep and the present-day situation is characterized by ongoing vanishing of the remaining surface ice as well as by complex patterns of deand aggrading periglacial permafrost. Permafrost, Phillips, Springman & Arenson (eds) © 2003 Swets & Zeitlinger, Lisse, ISBN 90 5809 582 7

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