Val Zeznina, located within the Swiss National Park in the canton of Grisons, hosts active rock glaciers that are globally significant as indicators of alpine permafrost and climatic changes. Despite their importance, the timing of their formation and the processes driving their long-term evolution remain poorly understood. Understanding these factors is key to reconstructing the paleoenvironmental conditions of high-altitude regions and the role of permafrost in shaping alpine landscapes.
This MSc thesis aims to determine the timing of rock glacier formation in Macun, reconstruct their long-term evolution, and establish their paleoenvironmental context. To achieve this, detailed mapping of the post-Last Glacial Maximum landforms and rock glaciers will be conducted using UAV-derived high-resolution orthoimages and digital elevation models. Samples will be collected from rock glacier boulders for surface exposure dating to constrain the timing of their onset and significant evolutionary phases. Sedimentological and petrographic analyses will be performed to investigate the internal dynamics and long-term stability of these landforms. Finally, the results will be integrated with regional paleoclimatic records to identify links between climate oscillations and rock glacier development. By combining geomorphological, geochronological, and sedimentological approaches, this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the processes shaping the alpine periglacial landscape. This study aims to uncover the temporal framework and environmental drivers of rock glacier formation in Val Zeznina. The findings will contribute to our understanding of periglacial processes in alpine regions, with implications for reconstructing Quaternary landscape evolution and permafrost dynamics.
The MSc student will present their findings at national conferences and submit their thesis in manuscript format, aiming to publish in an open-access scientific journal.
Advisors: Prof. Naki Akçar
University: BE