Contemporary degradation of steep rock slopes in the periglacial zone of the Tatra Mts., Poland

Abstract

This study presents the results of the first large-area monitoring of steep slopes in the Tatra Mountains. In the research, we used terrestrial laser scanning methods and GIS tools. We also performed crack density measurements. The results obtained demonstrate that the rate of change of slopes under the influence of weathering and rockfall processes is very variable both in time and space. The rate of retreat of 4 steep adjacent granitoid slopes over the same period ranged from 0.00013 ma-1 to 0.004 ma-1. The spatial variation in the number and size of cavities was related primarily to the cracks density.