Estimating the Effect of Different Influencing Factors on Rock Glacier Development in Two Regions in the Swiss Alps

To elucidate the factors that influence rock glacier distribution, we created a rock glacier inventory for two regions in the Swiss Alps (the Albula Alps and the Glarner Alps) and identified their spatial characteristics by adding topographical and meteorological data to a GIS. We evaluated the influence of mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual air temperature, head wall erosion, glacier coverage, lithology, slope, aspect, elevation and snow cover on rock glacier occurrence and characteristics, taking into account the interactions between these factors. MAP, lithology and head wall erosion significantly influenced rock glacier distribution, and the interaction of precipitation and lithology seemed to play a key role. Wind-driven snow redistribution influenced rock glacier frequency on hillslopes with different aspects. Rock glaciers interact with all of the factors analysed and exhibit complex relations with their regional environments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.