290050 VO Alpine Natural Hazards in Asia, the Andes and the Alps (2011W)

Geology and tectonics, geomorphology and landscape evolution, anthropogene activities and technical (mitigation) measures are all contributors to influencing natural alpine systems with a susceptibility to mass-movement occurrences. During the lectures this should be underlined by analyzing special case studies of i) large rockslides in the Himalayas which led to collapses of up to 8000m high peaks, ii) recently active seismo-tectonic fault-zones with thousands of landslides in the areas of the Andes, the Tien San-, the Qin Ling- and the Longmen Shan mountains (last 2008 in Sichuan/China) and iii) the well investigated mass-movements oft he Alps. There the particular recent reactivation of the Gschliefgraben earthflow on the rim oft he Northern Calcareous Alps rekindles the discussion of whether man should learn from rather than fight against natural processes that are active in many mountains throughout the world.