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Analysis of seismic data from a paraglacial slope instability
Rapid glacier retreat due to ongoing climate change has a number of impacts, including the destabilization of adjacent mountain slopes. This thesis will analyze seismic data collected at a paraglacial landslide and disentangle various signals due to earthquake activity, iceberg calving events, and rockfall.
Keywords: Seismology, landslide, glaciology
As glaciers retreat, they expose oversteepened valley walls which have been weakened by cycles of glaciation. In some cases, large landslides can form in formerly glaciated valleys and may pose a risk to nearby communities and infrastructure. During summer 2023, a 6-sensor seismic network, and station pairs for temporary site-to-reference measurements, were deployed on the lateral slopes of Portage Glacier, Alaska, USA, the site of an active paraglacial landslide. This thesis will involve the analysis of continuous and event-based seismic signals with detection algorithms, noise interferometry, location techniques, and other state-of-the-art processing approaches. The seismological findings will be embedded in a glaciological context to improve our understanding of lateral slope stability in valleys occupied by retreating glaciers. A background in time series analysis, as well as a willingness to learn new concepts in seismology, glaciology, geotechnical engineering, and geomorphology, would be helpful but is not mandatory for this work.
As glaciers retreat, they expose oversteepened valley walls which have been weakened by cycles of glaciation. In some cases, large landslides can form in formerly glaciated valleys and may pose a risk to nearby communities and infrastructure. During summer 2023, a 6-sensor seismic network, and station pairs for temporary site-to-reference measurements, were deployed on the lateral slopes of Portage Glacier, Alaska, USA, the site of an active paraglacial landslide. This thesis will involve the analysis of continuous and event-based seismic signals with detection algorithms, noise interferometry, location techniques, and other state-of-the-art processing approaches. The seismological findings will be embedded in a glaciological context to improve our understanding of lateral slope stability in valleys occupied by retreating glaciers. A background in time series analysis, as well as a willingness to learn new concepts in seismology, glaciology, geotechnical engineering, and geomorphology, would be helpful but is not mandatory for this work.
The goal of this thesis is to investigate slope stability, creep, failure events, and subsurface processes. The work will be based on field data collected in 2023 at Portage Glacier. Analysis of the datasets using a variety of methods will determine which portions of the slope are moving, the mechanism of movement, and if the movement is compartmentalized. In particular, the creation of a “hot spots” map is envisioned, where the spatial distribution of events on the slope of interest can be analyzed.
The goal of this thesis is to investigate slope stability, creep, failure events, and subsurface processes. The work will be based on field data collected in 2023 at Portage Glacier. Analysis of the datasets using a variety of methods will determine which portions of the slope are moving, the mechanism of movement, and if the movement is compartmentalized. In particular, the creation of a “hot spots” map is envisioned, where the spatial distribution of events on the slope of interest can be analyzed.
For further information, please contact Dr. Fabian Walter (fabian.walter@wsl.ch) or Ms. Jane Walden (walden@vaw.baug.ethz.ch). Please note that this thesis will be carried out at WSL Birmensdorf.
For further information, please contact Dr. Fabian Walter (fabian.walter@wsl.ch) or Ms. Jane Walden (walden@vaw.baug.ethz.ch). Please note that this thesis will be carried out at WSL Birmensdorf.