FROST.INI: an important milestone

A step forward for Alpine safety: Permafrost research on the Großglockner.

Last year, the FROST.INI project was launched, funded by the Interreg VI-A Italy-Austria 2021-2027 program. Its goal is to investigate permafrost degradation and the instability of high alpine infrastructures and to develop risk mitigation measures.

At the beginning of September, the project partners reached an important milestone: two new, 20-meter-deep permafrost drill cores were installed north and south of the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte on the Großglockner. The drill cores are located at an altitude of 3,450 meters above sea level, making them the third-highest drill cores of this type on the entire main Alpine ridge. The researchers expect that the data obtained on rock and slope stability will enable a more precise assessment and monitoring of climate change-induced permafrost thawing. In the future, this should help prevent dangers such as rockfalls, landslides, and damage to structures in time.

The thawing permafrost has already caused damage, as can be seen at the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte. Therefore, the findings from FROST.INI are fundamental for transferring them to other high alpine locations and protecting similar infrastructures in the long term.

More about the project: FROST.INI | OGS | Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, FROST.INI – Eurac Research, Project FROST.INI – GEORESEARCH