Tree-Ring Based Rockfall Reconstruction and Accuracy Assessment of a 3D Rockfall Model

Abstract

Rockfall is a major threat to settlements and transportation routes in large parts of the Alps. While protective forest stands in many locations undoubtedly reduce rockfall risk, little is known about the frequency of rockfall activity in a given place. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to reconstruct rockfall events with dendrogeomorphic methods and to analyse the temporal rockfall activity in a subalpine forest stand. Analyses comprised the calculation of rockfall rates, trends in rockfall activity and the comparison of rockfall parameters with results from a three-dimensional, physically based rockfall model.