Abstract
From 1975 to 1992, displacements were measured at the soil surface and at depth, at various sites of the Haute-Ubaye, southern French Alps, between 2450 m and 3150 m altitude. The mean rates of movement calculated varied from 0.5 to 5 cm/a. Frost creep predominates; it is more active between 2800 and 3150 m, in the alpine periglacial zone. The fairly elevated silt content of the slope deposits is favourable to frost creep. The evolution of different slopes to produce sorted stripes and solifluction lobes is variable; it depends on vegetation cover, water retention and slope exposure. The movement also varies, yearly, according to the intensity and distribution of precipitation. The soil solifluction is restrained because the number of freezing and thawing cycles is small, generally about 20 to 25 per annum at 5 cm depth.
Published Version
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