Risk assessment of rock and ice avalanches and resulting cascading processes in High Mountain Asia

Diplôme Thèse Risk assessment of rock and ice avalanches and resulting cascading processes in High Mountain Asia eng 2025-09-01 2025-09-01 author Zhong Yan 403868 director Stoffel Markus 131626 Forel Communs (FOREL) director Allen Simon Keith 814836 Services communs de l'Institut des sciences de l'environnement (ISECO) 156 10.13097/archive-ouverte/unige:187465 urn:nbn:ch:unige-1874657 Sc. 5933 Climate-induced permafrost degradation and glacier retreat are destabilizing steep mountain slopes, especially in High Mountain Asia (HMA), where complex terrain and rapid cryospheric change are increasing the likelihood of large rock and ice avalanches (RIAs) and their cascading processes. These events threaten both high-altitude communities and rapidly expanding infrastructure networks. Yet, a systematic understanding of RIA risk across HMA remains limited, particularly in terms of how hazard, exposure, and vulnerability interact to shape outcomes. This thesis aims to address this gap by integrating multi-source datasets and geospatial modeling to assess RIA-induced cascading hazards and their implications for critical infrastructure in HMA. The work is structured around three interrelated components that reflect the disaster risk framework: hazard processes, infrastructure exposure, and community vulnerability. By linking physical hazard processes with infrastructure exposure and vulnerability dynamics, this research offers an integrated perspective on cryospheric hazard risk in HMA and beyond. The findings highlight the urgent need for multi-dimensional risk assessments that move beyond deterministic climate narratives and instead address the coupled physical and societal drivers of glacier disasters. Such integration is essential to anticipate future risks and guide the development of resilient infrastructure in high mountain regions. Rock and ice avalanches High Mountain Asia Climate risk Hazard assessment Dewey 550 29 Section des sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement 15 false 1394 C-CIA Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene e92223f0-f472-4411-ae81-31b8517b000b Thesis Restricted Yan_PhD_Thesis_final.pdf 10099672 application/pdf Private 2027-09-10 4b589361ef38f33d2e6ee20fad531fe388c0d89d248100b54f7decca32e53f1d 09cc7180-f3fa-4703-b585-ccd1201f0d4e Imprimatur Public defense.pdf 41105 application/pdf 674bf1cd5570c810c83efbdfbb7a6baf4c839d361f214983e27647089c97fc61 Vignette Public 微信图片_20250830135124_9_20.png 479973 image/png embargoedAccess Faculté des sciences / Section des sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement

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