Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slope
<p>In peri- and paraglacial regions, water plays a critical role in the hydrological cycle and slope stability. However, hydrological models often overlook water infiltration into bedrock due to limited knowledge of groundwater dynamics at high elevations. Although the link between water prese...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Earth Surface Dynamics |
| Online Access: | https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/13/295/2025/esurf-13-295-2025.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849704010651533312 |
|---|---|
| author | R. Scandroglio S. Weber S. Weber T. Rehm M. Krautblatter |
| author_facet | R. Scandroglio S. Weber S. Weber T. Rehm M. Krautblatter |
| author_sort | R. Scandroglio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>In peri- and paraglacial regions, water plays a critical role in the hydrological cycle and slope stability. However, hydrological models often overlook water infiltration into bedrock due to limited knowledge of groundwater dynamics at high elevations. Although the link between water presence and rock slope failures is evident in many cases, proof of hydrostatic pressure buildup at depth is scarce, highlighting another significant research gap. This study aims to decipher the hydrological dynamics and empirically derive hydrostatic pressures in deep bedrock. We present unique decennial meteorological data, snowmelt modeling, and discharge measurements from two rock fractures in a tunnel located at <span class="inline-formula">≈</span> 55 m depth under the permafrost-affected Zugspitze ridge (2815–2962 m a.s.l.). We developed an empirical hydraulic model and detected flow anomalies by comparing inputs (i.e., snowmelt and rainfall) and outputs (i.e., discharge from fractures, baseflow, and no-flow events). Results show continuous flow during snowmelt and discontinuous events during summer months. Hydraulic conductivities are in the order of 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−4</sup></span> m s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>, with variations according to the saturation. Extreme events are likely to fully saturate the fractures and increase their interconnectivity, producing discharges up to 800 L d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> and 58 L h<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> from one single fracture. Hydrostatic pressures calculated implementing Darcy's falling-head law are 27 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 6 m during average snowmelt and 40 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 10 m for extreme events. These pressure levels can weaken or even destabilize rock slopes in rapidly warming alpine environments. With ongoing climate changes, water relevance is expected to increase, with impacts that have yet to be fully assessed. This study advances the understanding of alpine hydrology and geomorphology by providing new insights into deep groundwater processes and their implications for slope stability.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e08ff4208fb406f9676ebd546e4250e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2196-6311 2196-632X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth Surface Dynamics |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e08ff4208fb406f9676ebd546e4250e2025-08-20T03:16:57ZengCopernicus PublicationsEarth Surface Dynamics2196-63112196-632X2025-04-011329531410.5194/esurf-13-295-2025Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slopeR. Scandroglio0S. Weber1S. Weber2T. Rehm3M. Krautblatter4Landslide Research Group, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyWSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, SwitzerlandClimate Change, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center, CERC, Davos Dorf, SwitzerlandEnvironmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus, Zugspitze, GermanyLandslide Research Group, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany<p>In peri- and paraglacial regions, water plays a critical role in the hydrological cycle and slope stability. However, hydrological models often overlook water infiltration into bedrock due to limited knowledge of groundwater dynamics at high elevations. Although the link between water presence and rock slope failures is evident in many cases, proof of hydrostatic pressure buildup at depth is scarce, highlighting another significant research gap. This study aims to decipher the hydrological dynamics and empirically derive hydrostatic pressures in deep bedrock. We present unique decennial meteorological data, snowmelt modeling, and discharge measurements from two rock fractures in a tunnel located at <span class="inline-formula">≈</span> 55 m depth under the permafrost-affected Zugspitze ridge (2815–2962 m a.s.l.). We developed an empirical hydraulic model and detected flow anomalies by comparing inputs (i.e., snowmelt and rainfall) and outputs (i.e., discharge from fractures, baseflow, and no-flow events). Results show continuous flow during snowmelt and discontinuous events during summer months. Hydraulic conductivities are in the order of 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−4</sup></span> m s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>, with variations according to the saturation. Extreme events are likely to fully saturate the fractures and increase their interconnectivity, producing discharges up to 800 L d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> and 58 L h<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> from one single fracture. Hydrostatic pressures calculated implementing Darcy's falling-head law are 27 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 6 m during average snowmelt and 40 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 10 m for extreme events. These pressure levels can weaken or even destabilize rock slopes in rapidly warming alpine environments. With ongoing climate changes, water relevance is expected to increase, with impacts that have yet to be fully assessed. This study advances the understanding of alpine hydrology and geomorphology by providing new insights into deep groundwater processes and their implications for slope stability.</p>https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/13/295/2025/esurf-13-295-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | R. Scandroglio S. Weber S. Weber T. Rehm M. Krautblatter Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slope Earth Surface Dynamics |
| title | Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slope |
| title_full | Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slope |
| title_fullStr | Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slope |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slope |
| title_short | Decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high-alpine, fractured calcareous rock slope |
| title_sort | decadal in situ hydrological observations and empirical modeling of pressure head in a high alpine fractured calcareous rock slope |
| url | https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/13/295/2025/esurf-13-295-2025.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rscandroglio decadalinsituhydrologicalobservationsandempiricalmodelingofpressureheadinahighalpinefracturedcalcareousrockslope AT sweber decadalinsituhydrologicalobservationsandempiricalmodelingofpressureheadinahighalpinefracturedcalcareousrockslope AT sweber decadalinsituhydrologicalobservationsandempiricalmodelingofpressureheadinahighalpinefracturedcalcareousrockslope AT trehm decadalinsituhydrologicalobservationsandempiricalmodelingofpressureheadinahighalpinefracturedcalcareousrockslope AT mkrautblatter decadalinsituhydrologicalobservationsandempiricalmodelingofpressureheadinahighalpinefracturedcalcareousrockslope |