SLOPE STABILITY PROBLEMS RELATED TO GLACIER SHRINKAGE AND PERMAFROST DEGRADATION IN THE ALPS

Glacier shrinkage in the Alps has been clearly manifest since the midd le of the 19th century and could continue beyond the limits of holocen e variability in the near future. Changes in Alpine permafrost are les s well documented but are likely to take place at various time and dep th scales. This development leads to a variety of slope stability prob lems in bedrock and non-consolidated sediments (moraines and scree slo pes). A brief overview, with references to recent literature, is given with regard to characteristic situations and interactions as illustra ted by recent events observed in the Alps. The achievement of progress in recognizing and mitigating risks from such slope stability problem s in high mountain areas requires improved process understanding from field observations and computer modelling, systematic investigation of natural archives reflecting former slope instability processes and ad equate monitoring of potentially critical situations.