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Erosion ditch
Synonyms: Erosion trench
Erosion ditches are created when (a lot of) water meets relatively loose moraine material, gravel and/or soil. The water entrains this material: First an erosion groove is formed, then an erosion gully and then an erosion ditch.
Two impressive erosion ditches have formed in the forefield of the Gamchi glacier. The two erosion ditches are each about 250m long (measurement map.admin.ch) and up to 8m deep (estimate). The flowing water flows a little further down into the deep gorge.
Overview of the two erosion ditches in front of Gamchi Glacier.
Photo from 14.8.2019
The beginning of the western erosion ditch.
Photo from 14.8.2019
The beginning of the eastern erosion ditch.
Part of the meltwater flowed through this erosion ditch until about 2018.
Photo from 14.8.2019
The comparative photos of
location 6a
show the formation of the eastern erosion ditch. On 12.7.2015 it did not yet exist. On 8.7.2016 we discovered it for the first time. At that time it already had approximately the present dimensions. Probably it was created within a short time. Probably after the collapse of the ice cover over the glacial lake.
Another example of an erosion ditch: Stieregggraben above Grindelwald.
Photo taken 14.8.2019.
Published / Updated:
13.03.2020 /
27.03.2020
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