Scree Research Articles

Description of the female of Platycheirus altomontis Merlin & Nielsen in Nielsen, 2004 (Diptera, Syrphidae) with notes on the occurrence and hilltopping behaviour of rare French montane and Alpine Syrphidae

A focused search in very high (2500–3200 m asl) Alpine mountain tops in France resulted in the discovery of the very rare Alpine-endemic syrphid Platycheirus altomontis Merlin & Nielsen in Nielsen, 2004, including its hitherto unknown female. A description of the female is given and further complemented with behavioural observations of this species with special reference to hilltopping. Additional records and behavioural observations are provided for rare and new species for the French fauna from the montane and Alpine habitat with focus on species of high altitude (>2750 m) and hilltopping behaviour. The species Rohdendorfia alpina Sack 1938 is new to France and was observed in large numbers at scree slopes above 2750 m and males were found sitting at hilltops up to 3200 m. Hilltopping behaviour of Syrphidae was observed over the whole altitudinal range visited, and multiple species engaged in this behaviour even at above 3000 m. Hilltopping appears to be more common in some genera (e.g. Parasyrphus and Pipizella) than in others and may be linked to specific phenotypes in some species. The latter was observed for the species Cheilosia melanura (Becker, 1894) of which at high hilltops much smaller males were found than at lower altitudes.

A reconnaissance study of potentially important scandium deposits associated with carbonatite and alkaline igneous complexes of the Permian Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China

• The ELIP in SW China has a component of carbonatite-alkaline complexes that were not previously well known. • Pyroxenites of these complexes are composed of clinopyroxene with high Sc contents and can form low grade but high tonnage of Sc ores. • Exploration Targets for Sc in pyroxenites in three representative complexes have ∼12,000 to ∼36,000 tonnes of Sc metal at grades of ∼30 to ∼70 ppm. • Carbonatite-alkaline complexes of the ELIP may become a potentially important Sc metallogenic province and may be targets for exploration of REEs . Economically viable Sc deposits in the world are scarce and new and alternative resources are now urgently needed to ensure future sustainable supplies. We report here an essentially unknown, yet potentially important, type of Sc deposit that is associated with carbonatite and alkaline igneous complexes of the Permian Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), SW China. The ELIP is well known for its variably mineralized intrusions and flood basalts. Associated alkaline igneous complexes are minor in volume but important as possible sources of Sc and other REEs. Several such complexes occur in the N-S-trending Kangdian belt, where they are typically composed of pyroxenite, gabbro, and nepheline syenite. Some complexes also contain jacupirangite, melteigite, ijolite, and urtite. We show that some of these complexes contain carbonatites. The alkaline mafic-ultramafic rocks typically belong to either sodic or potassic magmatic series with high alkali compositions (up to 15.4 wt% Na 2 O + K 2 O). Pyroxenites in these complexes are composed of clinopyroxene with variable amounts of apatite and magnetite and have 39 to 71 ppm Sc. The Sc concentrations of these rocks may be high enough to justify mining under the current prices of Sc, which is nearly 5 times that of gold. Our preliminary study indicates a minimum of ∼12,000 to ∼36,000 tonnes of Sc metal in three representative complexes. This type of mineralization may ultimately contribute to a reliable and sustainable Sc supply chain in the future. In addition to Sc in the pyroxenites, carbonatites in these complexes will also be potentially important targets for REE exploration.

The formation mechanism and failure mode of a talus slope induced by rockfalls in Nayong County, Southwest China

Hillslope processes and mass movement are key issues in the analysis and evaluation of geological disasters in mountainous regions. A rockfall-dominated talus slope exhibits a typical outcrop–talus slope system as the product of detached boulders and rock fragments. The Zongling rockfall zone is one of the most active outcrop–talus slope systems in southwest China, and it provides a representative case study on the assessment of rockfall hazards at the base of talus slopes. In this article, the formation mechanism and failure mode of this rock-talus system were studied using field investigation, remote sensing image analysis, and numerical simulation. The findings reveal that the lithology and rock mass structure of the study site are controlling factors for outcrop retreat and the progressive development of talus deposits. This process is intensified by rainfall and mining activities. Boulder accumulation on the platform at the middle section of the talus slope serves as top loading for the slope mechanical system. During the boulder–ground interaction, the rockfall impact acts as toe cutting to change the geometry and mechanical balance of the talus slope. It was found that toe cutting significantly influenced the slope stability, which led to a decrease in the antisliding force of the slope. The slope failure induced by rockfalls occurred with the combined effect of top loading and toe cutting on this talus slope. During rockfall prevention and mitigation in this region, the government and residents should consider the geodisaster chain, as this relates to the impact of rockfall on talus slopes, in addition to the risk of damage due to the rockfall trajectory.

Performance investigation of micropile groups in stabilizing unstable talus slopes via centrifuge model tests

Micropile groups (MPGs) are an effective means of geological disaster prevention for small- and medium-sized landslides, with the advantages of light structures and convenient construction. However, the mechanical and deformation characteristics of MPGs are complex, and their practical application is ahead of theoretical research, which greatly limits the popularization and application of MPGs. This paper conducts a series of centrifuge model tests to investigate the mechanical and deformation characteristics and the antislip mechanism of MPGs, then compare them with those of conventional piles (CPs). In particular, MPGs with and without the platform in the strengthening process of the talus slope are compared, and monitoring the reinforcement effect of MPGs subjected to gravity loading. The results suggest that the soil pressure shows a triangular distribution pattern and is influenced by the position of the potential slip zone and the geometry of the bedrock surface. The compatibility deformation of the pile–soil leads to the stress release of the soil behind the pile, which is an important part affecting the antislip mechanism of the MPG. The platform limits 75% of the pile top displacement of the MPG and simultaneously redistributes the stress of the piles, providing a better overall antislip effect of the pile–soil composite.

Subterranean biodiversity and the depth distribution of beetles (Coleoptera) in forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia)

Subterranean biodiversity and the depth distribution of beetles (Coleoptera) in forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia)

A large frozen debris avalanche entraining warming permafrost ground—the June 2021 Assapaat landslide, West Greenland

A large landslide (frozen debris avalanche) occurred at Assapaat on the south coast of the Nuussuaq Peninsula in Central West Greenland on June 13, 2021, at 04:04 local time. We present a compilation of available data from field observations, photos, remote sensing, and seismic monitoring to describe the event. Analysis of these data in combination with an analysis of pre- and post-failure digital elevation models results in the first description of this type of landslide. The frozen debris avalanche initiated as a 6.9 * 106 m3 failure of permafrozen talus slope and underlying colluvium and till at 600–880 m elevation. It entrained a large volume of permafrozen colluvium along its 2.4 km path in two subsequent entrainment phases accumulating a total volume between 18.3 * 106 and 25.9 * 106 m3. About 3.9 * 106 m3 is estimated to have entered the Vaigat strait; however, no tsunami was reported, or is evident in the field. This is probably because the second stage of entrainment along with a flattening of slope angle reduced the mobility of the frozen debris avalanche. We hypothesise that the initial talus slope failure is dynamically conditioned by warming of the ice matrix that binds the permafrozen talus slope. When the slope ice temperature rises to a critical level, its shear resistance is reduced, resulting in an unstable talus slope prone to failure. Likewise, we attribute the large-scale entrainment to increasing slope temperature and take the frozen debris avalanche as a strong sign that the permafrost in this region is increasingly at a critical state. Global warming is enhanced in the Arctic and frequent landslide events in the past decade in Western Greenland let us hypothesise that continued warming will lead to an increase in the frequency and magnitude of these types of landslides. Essential data for critical arctic slopes such as precipitation, snowmelt, and ground and surface temperature are still missing to further test this hypothesis. It is thus strongly required that research funds are made available to better predict the change of landslide threat in the Arctic.

Classification and sediment estimation for debris flow-prone catchments in the Parlung Zangbo Basin on the southeastern Tibet

Glaciers in alpine mountains create special landforms that store large amounts of sediment, providing loose materials for debris flows. Various types of catchments have diverse storage modes for such materials, resulting in differences in the location and volume of sediment. However, little is known about this phenomenon due to the lack of data. Hence, taking the Parlung Zangbo basin as an example, we identify the main sediment according to the catchment type and propose sediment calculation methods for different types. The results show that tributary catchments can be divided into five types: deep U-shaped catchments, shallow U-shaped catchments, glacial hanging catchments, fluvial catchments after glaciation, and fluvial catchments. The sediments include glacial deposits, landslides, talus slopes, fans, etc. Non-glacial sediments can be calculated by the morphological method, while the thickness of glacial deposits can be calculated effectively by the proposed curve-fitting method. The volumes of glacial deposits are obtained and compared with those of other sediments. Glacial deposits are one or two orders of magnitude larger than other deposits. Glacial deposits in the first three types are concentrated on gentle downstream slopes, while in the fourth type was in steep location.

Distribution and Roost Site Selection of Eastern Small-Footed Bats (Myotis leibii) in Mountains of West-Central Arkansas

Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed Bat) is a rare species in eastern North America that is threatened by habitat loss and white-nose syndrome. Although rare, this species cannot be adequately evaluated for listing on the Endangered Species Act because of data deficiencies, including about its distribution and roost habitat. Our objectives were to document the distribution of Eastern Small-footed Bats and determine landscape and local characteristics that influence their probability of presence in the mountains of west-central Arkansas. Using acoustic monitoring, visual searches of rock formations, and mist-netting, we found that presence of Eastern Small-footed Bats was more likely in regions with talus slopes and nearby forest cover. These features may benefit the species by providing abundant options for roost switching, unique thermal properties, and short distances to foraging habitat.

Spectral induced polarization imaging to investigate an ice-rich mountain permafrost site in Switzerland

Abstract. Spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements were collected at the Lapires talus slope, a long-term permafrost monitoring site located in the western Swiss Alps, to assess the potential of the frequency dependence (within the frequency range of 0.1–225 Hz) of the electrical polarization response of frozen rocks for an improved permafrost characterization. The aim of our investigation was to (a) find a field protocol that provides SIP imaging data sets less affected by electromagnetic coupling and easy to deploy in rough terrains, (b) cover the spatial extent of the local permafrost distribution, and (c) evaluate the potential of the spectral data to discriminate between different substrates and spatial variations in the volumetric ice content within the talus slope. To qualitatively assess data uncertainty, we analyse the misfit between normal and reciprocal (N&R) measurements collected for all profiles and frequencies. A comparison between different cable setups reveals the lowest N&R misfits for coaxial cables and the possibility of collecting high-quality SIP data in the range between 0.1–75 Hz. We observe an overall smaller spatial extent of the ice-rich permafrost body compared to its assumed distribution from previous studies. Our results further suggest that SIP data help to improve the discrimination between ice-rich permafrost and unfrozen bedrock in ambiguous cases based on their characteristic spectral behaviour, with ice-rich areas showing a stronger polarization towards higher frequencies in agreement with the well-known spectral response of ice.

Linaria markotchensis (Plantaginaceae), а new species from the Western Caucasus

Linaria markotchensis (Plantaginaceae), а new species from the Western Caucasus, is described, illustrated and compared with its morphologically closest relatives from L. sect. Linaria (L. altaica, L. biebersteinii, L. macroura, L. odora and L. vulgaris). The new species is different from L. subsect. Laeves (L. altaica, L. macroura, L. odora) by the surface disk of the seed being covered with tubercles and short ridges and therefore should be assigned to L. subsect. Tuberculatae, in which it is distinguished by its habit. The main characters of L. markotchensis are the small size of the shoots; densely arranged alternate leaves, their number and succulence; lack of pubescence, except for some rare, very small glandular trichomes on the inner side of the sepals and corolla; black, shiny, reniform to orbicular-reniform seeds, with a wide black leathery wing; surface disk of the seed covered with tubercles and short ridges. Linaria markotchensis is a narrowly endemic species, growing on marl scree slopes of the Markotkh Ridge, Western Caucasus (Russia, Krasnodar Territory).

Negligence of Geological Investigations Site Leading to Slope Failure Incidents: A Case Study From Saih Al Ahmar in Bidbid, Northern Oman

This paper describes and analyzes a recent slope failure alongside Saih Al Ahmar water storage tank in Bidbid, and identifies the natural and induced causes of the landslide. Our analysis demonstrates that the landslide in Bidbid was the result of several combined factors: slope-forming materials, distribution of geological discontinuities and disturbance by human activities. Moreover, field observations, satellite imagery and geology of the study area indicate that the major factors which caused the landslide are the steep slope excavation along the developed tensional faults, the material in the slide ranging from talus deposits to interlayered peridotite and gabbro, cutting perpendicular to slope talus and removal of the toe of the slope. The slope failure and other stability concerns in the subsurface threatening the structural integrity of water storage infrastructure would not have arisen if the geology of the area had been carefully taken into account before the excavation phase. Landslide hazard assessment in the water tank area and its surrounding is necessary to manage the landslide risk. Proper measures should also be adopted to mitigate the impact and to avoid further failure in the slope already on the verge of movement by rainfall.

Particle Sorting in Scree Slopes: Characterization and Interpretation From the Micromechanical Perspective

AbstractParticle sorting is one of the most interesting phenomena observed in the formation of scree slopes. We present a study of this phenomenon through physical model tests and numerical simulations at the grain scale, with a focus on the link between the degree of sorting and particle attributes, as well as the underlying mechanisms. By characterizing the degree of sorting with the graphic segregation index, we show that the degree of sorting increases as the difference in particle size and shape between the component materials of the deposited mixture increases. We propose two factors, the relative size factor (SFr) and relative shape factor (ORr), and show that the degree of sorting increases with the absolute values of these two factors (|SFr| and |ORr|). By monitoring the motions of tracer particles in the numerical simulations, we found that particle migration proceeds in a periodical mode of "collision/friction ⇌ regaining ⇌ collision/friction." Also, we performed energy analyses, revealing that relatively large and rounded particles tend to have a lower rate of kinetic energy dissipation, migrate at a higher velocity over a longer period of time, and have a larger migration distance. In addition, we define a relative kinetic energy dissipation rate |Dk_r| and find that it is positively correlated with |SFr| and |ORr|; the discrepancy in particle size and shape between the component materials is responsible for the difference in their kinetic energy dissipation rates, and it is the latter that determines their migration distance difference and sorting features.

Facies analysis of the Greywacke Conglomerate Formation, Glenbuck, Scotland

The early Devonian Greywacke Conglomerate Formation of the Lanark Basin, southwestern Midland Valley of Scotland, has been exposed by a new road cut in the Glenbuck area, East Ayrshire, enabling a high-resolution sedimentological analysis of this unusually high-quality section. This study provides a facies analysis of the sedimentary rocks exposed in the Glenbuck area, and comparison with contemporaneous bedrock sections from across the Lanark Basin and adjacent Southern Upland High. Eleven lithofacies are identified, grouped into five associations: aggradational talus cone, progradational talus cone, debris flow lobe, fan surface aqueous-alluvial deposits, and gravel barform deposits. These comprise medial and proximal alluvial fan deposits, controlled by autogenic scour and avulsion along with general fan progradation. Contemporaneous sediments are present around Silurian inliers in the Lanark Basin and adjacent regions of the Southern Upland High. Whilst deposits in the Lanark Basin are genetically similar, contemporaneous deposits of the Southern Upland High preserve a distinctly more angular clast assemblage, indicating textural immaturity relative to those in the Lanark Basin.

A Note on Polyembryony in Prinsepia utilis Royle: A Case Study of Uttarakhand Himalaya

Bhekal, bhekali, bekoi is the vernacular term given to a moderate-sized underutilized deciduous shrub known as Prinsepia utilis Royle, widely distributed in the Himalayas at 1000-3000 msl., occurring frequently in open, sunny, dry places, rocky talus slopes, roadsides and in degraded hills. The genus belongs to Family Rosaceae comprising four species all over the world, among only P. utilis occur in India.

Delineation of Drainage Pattern and Water Projects - A Geographical Overview

In the context of present study the term Delineation means bordering of any kind of area by using scale and reveals in maps. In the context of present study the term Delineation is refer to mapping the drainage and check dams in the study area. The region is drained by the Arunavati River a northern tributary of Tapi, flowing towards the south. River Aner in the east marked an eastern boundary, which flows towards south while in the west Nandurbar district and in the east Jalgaon district. The Northern boundary is marked by Madhya Pradesh. The basaltic lava flows in the hilly tract are not favorable for groundwater development but give rise to perennial and seasonal springs. The contact of the basaltic lava flows with alluvial mountain front deposit is demarcated by a major fault. The alluvial deposits are further subdivided into (a) Talus and Scree deposits bordering in the Satpura foothills and (b) Alluvium consisting of sand clays gravel. Secondly, Evapotranspiration is an important parameter to decide the quality of water is available for plant growth. Evapotranspiration in this tehsil is higher during the plant growth period, thus reducing the availability of water for plant growth. Drought Prone Taluka the semi-arid tracts of the State which receives rainfall between 750 to 1000 mm are drought-prone areas. The Shirpur taluka comes in the drought-prone area of the State. The annual normal rainfall is 617 mm received over period of 36 days during south west monsoon. A surface water resource in the Taluka is unevenly distributed. This resource is also not assured as it depends on rainfall. Irrigation projects in the Taluka cover the only small area in southeastern part of the Taluka. Because of this, the use of groundwater for irrigation, drinking water, and an industrial purpose has increased many folds. In entire taluka intensive development of groundwater has led to critical situations resulting in manifestations of problems like declining ground water levels, shortage of water supply, etc. This situation warrants for taking up programmers to augment groundwater resources on strong lines in the whole taluka. In this paper, groundwater resources in different formations of the entire taluka, industrialization, problems caused due to excessive utilization of groundwater, method store adopted in conserving the scarce resources and recharging the aquifers have been discussed.

From Habitat to Hormones: Year-around territorial behavior in rock-dwelling but not in forest and grassland lagomorphs and the role of DHEA

Year-around defense of extremely patchy habitat may require hormones that drive territorial behavior, but have no other costly physiological effects. The American pika (Ochotona princeps), but not the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) nor the eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), exhibits this behavior. The former engages in contest competition against all individuals independent of sex to protect its territory in highly fragmented patches on mountain talus slopes; the latter in scramble competition in more continuous forests, grasslands, and shrublands. The hormonal basis for this difference in lagomorphs is unknown. Dehydroepiandrosterone is a prohormone produced by the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex. It has no effect on aggressive behavior until converted in the brain to estrogen. We assessed levels (DHEA-S plus DHEA) in all species collected in the wild. In nonbreeding pikas, levels were 256 times higher than in hares and 22 times higher than in rabbits. Within species, females and males had similar levels. The proportion of the adrenal cortex devoted to the zona reticularis was significantly larger in pikas than in hares or rabbits. Our evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that dehydroepiandrosterone drives this individual-based, year-around territoriality in pikas. We propose a definitive experiment to determine this and recommend comparative studies in central Asia where there is high diversity of pika species whose behavior ranges from individual-based territoriality to colonial. Thus, we speculate that the wild American pika has the adrenal-brain nexus for all seasons and is an excellent model to understand how habitat drives the hormonal control of spacing behavior.

Inferring rockfall frequency-magnitude relationships and talus accumulation times from lichenometric study of talus deposits, Glenwood Canyon, CO, USA

Rockfall is a frequent hazard in mountainous areas of the world. Rockfall hazard assessment and mitigation design typically require design volumes of blocks and design frequencies of events. However, constraining the frequency of rockfall is challenging due to limited data, limited timespans of data collection, and difficulty of estimating dates for past rockfalls. This paper presents a study of rockfall frequency from natural rock slopes in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado using lichenometry measurements of Lecanora novomexicana and Lecidea atrobrunnea lichens from 1070 boulders from six talus deposits. The lichen ages are used to develop frequency-magnitude relationships for rockfall, to calculate recurrence intervals for selected volumes, and to estimate the time required to develop the observed talus deposits. Power laws fit to frequency-magnitude distributions of lichen ages yield b parameters ranging from −0.61 to −1.04. Based on these distributions, recurrence intervals for selected rockfall magnitudes include: sub-annual to annual for 0.1 m3, a few years to decades for 1 m3, and several decades for 10 m3 rockfalls. These estimated recurrence intervals appear to agree with observed signs of rockfall activity from the studied slopes and with rockfall data from the limited historical record for Glenwood Canyon. Mapped lichen ages indicate no preferential spatial distribution of rockfalls, implying the majority of rockfall events are small relative to the scale of the deposit. A comparison of the estimated volumetric rockfall accumulation rates with estimated total talus deposit volumes suggests that each of the studied deposits has a depositional history extending back longer than the beginning of the Holocene.

Hadal Biodiversity, Habitats and Potential Chemosynthesis in the Java Trench, Eastern Indian Ocean

The Java Trench is the only subduction trench in the Indian Ocean that extends to the hadal zone (> 6,000 m water depth), and except for sevenbenthic trawls acquired around the 1950s, there has been little to no sampling at hadal depths undertaken since. In 2019, we undertook a 5-day expedition comprising a scientific dive using a full ocean depth-rated submersible, the DSV Limiting Factor, seven hadal-lander deployments, and high-resolution bathymetric survey. The submersible performed a video transect from the deepest point of the trench, up a 150 m high near-vertical escarpment located on the forearc, and then across a plateau at a depth of ∼7,050 m to make in situ observations of the habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity inhabiting these hadal depths. We found the Java Trench hadal community to be diverse and represented by 10 phyla, 21 classes, 34 orders and 55 families, with many new records and extensions in either depth or geographic range, including a rare encounter of a hadal ascidian. The submersible transect revealed six habitats spanning the terrain. The deepest trench axis comprised fine-grained sediments dominated by holothurians, whereas evidence of active rock slope failure and associated talus deposits were prevalent in near-vertical and vertical sections of the escarpment. Sediment pockets and sediment pouring down the steep wall in “chutes” were commonly observed. The slope terrain was dominated by two species in the order Actiniaria and an asteroid, as well as 36 instances of orange, yellow, and white bacterial mats, likely exploiting discontinuities in the exposed bedrock, that may indicate a prevalence of chemosynthetic input into this hadal ecosystem. Near the top of the escarpment was an overhang populated by > 100 hexactinellid (glass) sponges. The substrate of the plateau returned to fine-grained sediment, but with a decreased density and diversity of epifauna relative to the trench floor. By providing the first visual insights of the hadal habitats and fauna of the Java Trench, this study highlights how the habitat heterogeneity influences patchy species distributions, and the great benefit of using a hadal-rated exploratory vehicle to comprehensively assess the biodiversity of hadal ecosystems.

Small is strong: Post-LIA resilience of Europe's Southernmost glaciers assessed by geophysical methods

Snezhnika and Banski Suhodol glacierets in the Pirin Mountains are the southernmost surface ice accumulations in Europe. Apart from direct snowfall, substantial inputs from avalanching feed both glacierets. Both glacierets appear to be more stable than any other small glacier in the Mediterranean region. Although accurate knowledge of ice thickness distribution and bedrock topography is essential to understand the long-term dynamics of these ice bodies, such data are lacking for the Balkan Peninsula glaciers. Detailed GPR measurements conducted in 2018 using a 100 MHz frequency antenna revealed a maximum thickness of 17 m at Banski Suhodol and 12 m at Snezhnika. Two distinct main layers revealed by density variations were inferred at Snezhnika and several clear internal reflections observed on the radargrams were associated with thin debris layers. Based on the morphological evidence of the former ice extents and high-resolution digital elevation models, 3D reconstructions of ice thickness distribution during the Little Ice Age (LIA) were generated. The results revealed that since LIA the volume of Snezhnika dropped by 123%, and that of Banski Suhodol by 83%. Both glacierets reached maximum thickness values 5 m greater than the present ones during LIA. For the first time, ERT measurements and miniature thermistors were used to investigate ground ice occurrence in the vicinity of the Pirin's glacierets. The ERT measurements revealed no glacial ice in the proglacial area of Banski Suhodol nor in the frontal moraine. Ice-rich frozen debris and frozen sediments without massive ice occur downslope the glacieret on a slope covered by loose rock deposits. Based on the ground surface thermal data, permafrost appears likely on this scree slope, where persistent or late lying snow cover occurs regularly. Our investigation revealed that permafrost is not necessarily related to rock glaciers occurrence in the Balkan Peninsula.

Factors influencing the ground thermal regime in a mid-latitude glacial cirque (Hoyo Empedrado, Cantabrian Mountains, 2006–2020)

Air and near-surface ground temperatures were measured using dataloggers over 14 years (2006–2020) in 10 locations at 2262 to 2471 m.a.s.l. in a glacial cirque of the Cantabrian Mountains. These sites exhibit relevant differences in terms of substrate, solar radiation, orientation, and geomorphology. Basal temperature of snow (BTS) measurements and electrical resistivity tomography of the talus slope were also performed. The mean annual near-surface ground temperatures ranged from 5.1 °C on the sunny slope to 0.2 °C in the rock glacier furrow, while the mean annual air temperature was 2.5 °C. Snow cover was inferred from near-surface ground temperature (GST) data, estimating between 130 and 275 days per year and 0.5 to 7.1 m snow thickness. Temperature and BTS data show that the lowest part of the talus slope and the rock glacier furrow are the coldest places in this cirque, coinciding with a more persistent and thickest snow cover. The highest temperatures coincide with less snow cover, fine-grained soils, and higher solar radiation. Snow cover has a primary role in controlling GST, as the delayed appearance in autumn or delayed disappearance in spring have a cooling effect, but no correlation with mean annual near-surface ground temperatures exists. Heavy rain-over-snow events have an important influence on the GST. In the talus slope, air circulation during the snow-covered period produces a cooling effect in the lower part, especially during the summer. Significant inter-annual GST differences were observed that exhibited BTS limitations. A slight positive temperature trend was detected but without statistically significance and less prominent than nearby reference official meteorological stations, so topoclimatic conditions reduced the more global positive temperature trend. Probable existence of permafrost in the rock glacier furrow and the lowest part of the talus slope is claimed; however, future work is necessary to confirm this aspect.