Field-validated imaging of decadal and seasonal changes in permafrost bedrock using quantitative electrical resistivity tomography (Zugspitze, Germany/Austria)

Scandroglio, Riccardo; Weber, Samuel; Limbrock, Jonas K.; Krautblatter, Michael

doi:10.5194/tc-20-4787-2026

Articles | Volume 20, issue 9

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4787-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4787-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 20, issue 9

Research article

|

31 Aug 2026

Research article |

| 31 Aug 2026

Field-validated imaging of decadal and seasonal changes in permafrost bedrock using quantitative electrical resistivity tomography (Zugspitze, Germany/Austria)

Riccardo Scandroglio, Samuel Weber, Jonas K. Limbrock, and Michael Krautblatter

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4787-2026-supplement

Data sets

ERT data collected in the Kammstollen tunnel (Zugspitze, Germany) from 2007 to 2023. Raw and inverted values with relative scripts. R. Scandroglio https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13839155

Short summary

This study monitors changes in frozen rock on Mount Zugspitze over 17 years using monthly electrical resistivity measurements. By linking this data to rock temperature and applying advanced analysis, it reveals a 40 % loss of permafrost in the past decade. Thawing accelerates during summer, highlighting increasing risks of rock instability as temperatures rise.