The Swiss Permafrost Monitoring network (PERMOS)
Active since 2000, the Swiss Permafrost Monitoring network (PERMOS) aims at documenting the state and evolution of permafrost in the Swiss Alps. One of the key parameters measured by the network is the annual velocity of a selection of rock glaciers. Overall, the data shows very strong increase in rock glacier velocities since the beginning of the systematic measurements, in relation with the warming of permafrost. Whereas permafrost and rock glaciers have been intensively studied in the European Alps during the 3 last decades, much less is known in other mountain ranges. This is the case for instance for the Southern Alps of New Zealand, though permafrost appears to be widely present. This talk will first present the state of knowledge on the health state of permafrost and rock glacier in the Swiss Alps, and, second, will present the results of investigations on rock glacier ages and current activity in Irishman Stream, Ben Ohau range, New Zealand.