The mighty dead ice cone has lost more mass and length in the last 12 months and two
collapse structures have formed.
Death ice cone on 4.8.2019.
Legend:
1)
Glacier gate
2)
Collapse structure south
3) Collapse structure north
Glacier gate
Dead ice Tiefen glacier: Glacier gate on 4.8.2019.
Collapse structure south
The southern
collapse structure reaches up to the level of the glacier lake and is connected to the glacier gate by a quite large tunnel.
Dead ice cone Tiefen glacier: Collapse structure south on 4.8.2019 (aerial photo).
The
glacier gate is in the picture below left, in the extension of the sickle-shaped crevasses. The collapse structure is partly still filled with snow.
Collapse structure north
This
collapse structure is currently still filled with snow. But it should also reach to the bottom of the dead ice cone.
Dead ice cone Tiefen glacier: Collapse structure north on 4.8.2019 (aerial photo).
The aerial photograph shows the circular (radial) crevasses of the glacier, which surround the still small collapse structure. According to our observations, these circular crevasses have always led to a larger collapse structure.
Its depth is probably max. a few meters. It is conceivable that the glacier has dug a hollow at the end of the steep step, which is currently still filled with dead ice. The dead ice is expected to melt in the coming years. Perhaps a lake with a greater depth will remain behind.
This year there was more snow on the Tiefen glacier than in previous years with the exception of 2018, which is why we only visited the Tiefen glacier at the beginning of August this year.
The vegetation in the glacier forefield (from the eastern end of the alluvial plain to the dead ice) is still sparse. Below some photos of plants, which we could discover several times:
Tiefen glacier: Moss in the northern part of the glacier forefield on 4.8.2019.
Tiefen glacier: Grasses in the northern part of the glacier forefield on 4.8.2019.
A few years ago, at an altitude of approx. 2500m, we noticed a surface facing the sun with an interesting structure.
The ground is dark brown to grey. The surface is wrinkled and quite firm. It looks as if the mass would have flowed. This ground has cracks in which plants have settled.
Ground at an altitude of approx. 2500m above sea level on 4.8.2019.
Flat, shrub-like plant, which grows in one of the cracks on 4.8.2019.
Close-up of the ground on 4.8.2019.
It is a pity that people carelessly trample over this special floor and damage it in the process.
Close to the glacier we found sandy areas, which could look like the dark brown ground in > 10 years (see photos above).
Sandy areas in the immediate vicinity of the Tiefen glacier on 4.8.2019.
Above 2500m we noticed the variety of lichens.
Probably Lat.: Thamnolia Vermicularis
Probably Lat.: Vulpicida tubulosus
Close-up of a black lichen on stone.