Permafrost distribution and conditions at the headwalls of two receding glaciers (Schladming and Hallstatt glaciers) in the Dachstein Massif, Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria

Research in the Dachstein Massif, Austria, reveals that permafrost is predominantly found in north-facing rock walls at elevations of 2600 to 2700 meters above sea level, with its distribution and thermal regime significantly influenced by slope aspect. Using a multi-method approach—including ground surface temperature monitoring, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and airborne photogrammetry—the study identified large permafrost bodies at north-exposed sites, characterized by high resistivities (>30,000 Ω m) indicative of frozen bedrock. A notable imprint of the former Little Ice Age (LIA) ice margin was detected, with distinct differences in resistivity above and below this line suggesting permafrost aggradation following glacier retreat. These findings provide critical insights into frost-influenced weathering and cirque erosion in high-mountain settings, particularly in the context of receding glaciers.

Rode, M., Sass, O., Kellerer-Pirklbauer, A., Schnepfleitner, H., & Gitschthaler, C. (2020). Permafrost distribution and conditions at the headwalls of two receding glaciers (Schladming and Hallstatt glaciers) in the Dachstein Massif, Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria. The Cryosphere, 14(4), 1173–1186. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1173-2020