Dr. Robert Kenner

Function

Scientific staff member

Alpine environment and natural hazards

Permafrost

Contact

robert.kenner(at)slfto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 81 417 02 19+41 81 417 02 19

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Flüelastrasse 11
7260 Davos Dorf

Site

Davos Da C 1 48

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Dynamics of the rock slope instability "Spitze Stei"

The rock slope instability "Spitze Stei" constitutes a risk for the touristic infrastructure around lake Öschinensee and the village Kandersteg. Our project task will investigate the mechanisms which led to the slope destabilisation and analyse scenarios for slope failures.

CCAMM II: Cascading Processes

The CCAMM cluster "Cascading Processes"develops knowledge and models that can be used to anticipate future cascading events. At "Spitze Stei", Kandersteg BE, we study the cascading processes: rock slope instability, debris flow, rock/snow avalanches and lake outburst floods.

Kleiner Piz Buin: experimental investigations

In July 2020, the SLF identified a highly fissured and deformed potential rockfall mass with an incipient crest near the summit of Kleiner Piz Buin.

Rock slope failure Piz Kesch

A recently published study shows that the occurrence of a major rock slope failure, such as the one that took place on Piz Kesch in February 2014, depends not only on the conditions prevailing at the time, but also on the long term interaction of geology and climate over millennia.

Permafrost rock walls

How does snow influence the temperature of frozen rock walls? A novel combination of measurement and modelling techniques is being used to determine snow distribution and its impacts on the underlying rock in extremely steep terrain.

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Kenner, R.; Gischig, V.; Gojcic, Z.; Quéau, Y.; Kienholz, C.; Figi, D.; Thöny, R.; Bonanomi, Y., 2022: The potential of point clouds for the analysis of rock kinematics in large slope instabilities: examples from the Swiss Alps: Brinzauls, Pizzo Cengalo and Spitze Stei. Landslides, 19: 1357-1377. doi: 10.1007/s10346-022-01852-4

Kenner, R.; Arenson, L.U.; Grämiger, L., 2022: Mass movement processes related to permafrost and glaciation. In: Shroder, J.J.F. (eds), 2022: Treatise on geomorphology. sine loco, Elsevier. 283-303. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818234-5.00112-7

Haberkorn, A.; Kenner, R.; Noetzli, J.; Phillips, M., 2021: Changes in ground temperature and dynamics in mountain permafrost in the Swiss Alps. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9: 626686 (21 pp.). doi: 10.3389/feart.2021.626686

Phillips, M.; Kenner, R., 2021: Periglacial landscapes and protection measures above Pontresina. In: Reynard, E. (eds), 2021: Landscapes and landforms of Switzerland. Cham, Springer. 397-407. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-43203-4_28

Boaga, J.; Phillips, M.; Noetzli, J.; Haberkorn, A.; Kenner, R.; Bast, A., 2020: A comparison of frequency domain electro-magnetometry, electrical resistivity tomography and borehole temperatures to assess the presence of ice in a rock glacier. Frontiers in Earth Science, 8: 586430 (11 pp.). doi: 10.3389/feart.2020.586430

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Further scientific publications

Kenner, R.; Lüthi, R.; Singeisen, C.; Phillips, M.; Burchard, U.; Zenklusen Mutter, E., 2022: Felsstürze im warmen Permafrost: Quantifizierung des Risikos aus potenziellen Anrissgebieten im Kanton Wallis. Swiss-Bulletin für angewandte Geologie, 27, 1: 31-44.

Phillips, M.; Haberkorn, A.; Kenner, R.; Nötzli, J., 2020: Current changes in mountain permafrost based on observations in the Swiss Alps. Swiss-Bulletin für angewandte Geologie, 25, 1-2: 53-63.

Mulsow, C.; Kenner, R., 2018: UAV-basierte Vermessung von Bergseen. In: DVW -Gesellschaft für Geodäsie, Geoinformation und Landmanagement e. V. (eds), 2018: Hydrographie 2018 - Trend zu unbemannten Messsystemen. Beiträge zum 170. DVW-Seminar und 32. Hydrographentag vom 12. bis 14. Juni 2018 in Lindau. 170. DVW-Seminar und 32. Hydrographentag, Lindau, Germany. 99-113.

Eberhard, L.; Marty, M.; Stoffel, A.; Kenner, R.; Bühler, Y., 2018: Photogrammetric snow depth mapping: evaluation of different platforms and sensors. In: 2018: International snow science workshop proceedings 2018. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2018, Innsbruck. 403-407.

Phillips, M.; Kos, A.; Amann, F.; Bonanomi, Y.; Huwiler, A.; Negrini, M.; Lüthi, R.; Kenner, R.; Wolter, A.; Bühler, Y., 2016: Deep-seated rock slope failures in mountain permafrost: Pizzo Cengalo and Piz Kesch (Canton Grisons, Switzerland). In: Koboltschnig, G. (eds), 2016: 13th congress INTERPRAEVENT 2016. 30 May to 2 June 2016. Lucerne, Switzerland. Extended abstracts "Living with natural risks". 13th congress INTERPRAEVENT 2016, Lucerne, Switzerland. 148-149.

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Magazine article and brochures

Zenklusen Mutter, E.; Singeisen, C.; Kenner, R.; Phillips, M.; Burchard, U.; Steffen, D.; Stoebener, P.; Mayoraz, R., 2020: Zukünftige Gefahren und Risiken aus gefrorenen Felswänden im Wallis. FAN Agenda, Fachleute Naturgefahren Schweiz, 18-24.

Phillips, M.; Lüthi, R.; Kenner, R.; Barblan, R., 2015: Felssturz am Piz Kesch, Winter 2014. Bündnerwald, 68, 1: 46-49.

Kenner, R.; Phillips, M., 2010: Deformationsmessungen mittels terrestrischem Laserscanning. Bündnerwald, 63, 6: 23-28.

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