{"id":1692,"date":"2025-07-10T10:29:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T10:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icewalk.it\/rock-glacier\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T15:34:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:34:12","slug":"rock-glacier","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/icewalk.it\/en\/rock-glacier\/","title":{"rendered":"Rock\u00a0glacier"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Here! On the rock\u00a0glacier
of Pian dei Cavalli<\/b><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pian dei Cavalli <\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

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The rock glacier of Pian dei Cavalli<\/b>, one of the largest in South Tyrol, is a remarkable natural laboratory for understanding the inner workings of these massive bodies of debris and ice.<\/span><\/p>\n

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To determine what lies beneath the surface debris, scientists use ground-penetrating radar<\/b>, seismic surveys, or carry out boreholes. In this way, the vertical profile of the Rossb\u00e4nke rock glacier could be reconstructed: in the upper meters, large, angular boulders with substantial cavities are found. Below a depth of about 10 meters, the material becomes finer and is mixed with ice. At depths of 35\u201340 meters and below, ground temperatures partly exceed the freezing point due to geothermal heat, leading to water outflows that feed several springs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rock glaciers respond to temperature changes down to 5\u20138 metres. This upper active layer<\/b> is highly dynamic: freeze\u2013thaw cycles cause rockfalls, landslides, and sudden bursts of water. Below this zone lies the stable permafrost<\/b>, where temperatures remain permanently below 0 \u00b0C.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The impacts of climate warming are already evident. Over the past decade, the Pian dei Cavalli rock glacier has accelerated its flow and its surface has sunk by up to 2 metres due to ice melt.<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|20px|22px|20px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin=”||26px|||” sticky_enabled=”0″]Measurements of the Pian dei Cavalli rock glacier movement[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/icewalk.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/06-Bewegungsmessungen-Rossb\u201enk.jpg” title_text=”06 Bewegungsmessungen Rossb\u201enk” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin=”||21px|||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Legend<\/h6>\n

Yellow v<\/em> \u2264 20 cm\/year
Orange 20 cm\/year < v<\/em> \u2264 30 cm\/year
Red\u00a0 <\/span>v<\/em> > 30 cm\/year<\/p>\n

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Ground-penetrating radar measurements<\/p>\n

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