With more than 4 years of real-time monitoring data from the Hochvogel early warning system, we answer what controls the preconditioning of massive rock slope failures and what will most likely be the final trigger. By correlating slope displacements with meteorological and seismic data, we found that water from rain and snowmelt is the most important driver. Our approach is applicable to similar sites and indicates, where future climatic changes, e.g. in rain intensity and frequency, may alter the preparation of slope failure.
Leinauer, J., Dietze, M., Knapp, S., Scandroglio, R., Jokel, M., and Krautblatter, M.: How water, temperature, and seismicity control the preconditioning of massive rock slope failure (Hochvogel), Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1027–1048, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1027-2024, 2024.