Articles | Volume 19, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5003-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5003-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
24 Oct 2025
Research article |
| 24 Oct 2025
| 24 Oct 2025
Rapid regional assessment of rock glacier activity based on DInSAR wrapped-phase signal
Federico Agliardi
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, 20126, Italy
Chiara Crippa
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, 20126, Italy
Institute of Earth Observation, EURAC Research, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
Daniele Codara
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, 20126, Italy
Federico Franzosi
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, 20126, Italy
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Our study, focused on South Tyrol (NE Italy), develops an updated and comprehensive activity classification system for all rock glaciers in the current regional inventory. Using multisource products, we integrate climatic, morphological, and differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) data in replicable routines and multivariate statistical methods, producing a comprehensive classification based on the updated Rock Glacier Inventories and Kinematic (RGIK) 2023 guidelines. Results leave only 3.5 % of the features non-classified, as opposed to 13–18.5 % in previous studies.
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Short summary
We present a semi-automatic method integrating geomorphological data, permafrost extent, and Sentinel-1 differential interferometric synthetic-aperture radar (DInSAR) wrapped-phase signals to assess the activity of 514 periglacial landforms across 1000 km² in Upper Valtellina (Italian Alps). Four activity classes are identified and validated with geomorphological evidence and multivariate statistics. Results highlight the potential of wrapped DInSAR products, free from unwrapping errors, for regional-scale screening and site-specific study selection.
We present a semi-automatic method integrating geomorphological data, permafrost extent, and...
