Mountain in Alps at risk of collapse at any moment as cracks appear

The Hochvogel mountain, found on the border between Germany and Austria, is showing huge cracks, and scientists warn it is only a matter of time before it collapses. A huge fracture cuts through the 2,592-metre-high summit, which continues to be chipped away. According to researchers from the GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, the mountain is currently sliced by a five-metre wide fracture, which stretches more than 30 metres long.

The mountain has already subsided by several metres, and one day it will collapse.

When it does it will release an avalanche of 260,000 cubic metres of limestone debris – which would weigh roughly the same as 260 family homes.

The debris will fall into the Hornbach Valley in Austria – a sparsely populated area.

However, when it will happen is still a matter of mystery.

Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have placed seismic sensors around the area to hopefully give an indication as to when it might crumble.

A statement from GFZ said: “The devices record the subtle vibration of the peak: similar to a violin string which is pulled more or less does the pitch of the summit change as it becomes stressed, an effect that allows unique insight to the preparation phase of an upcoming rock slide.

“Thus, also a timely warning should become possible – even if human dwellings are not threatened directly at this site.”

During the summer of 2018, the scientists managed to measure seismologists managed to record “a recurring sawtooth-like frequency pattern”.

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“It is a typical precursor of large mass movements.

“The decisive factor here is that the closer this event comes, the shorter the observed cycles become, making them an important hazard indicator.”

Michael Dietze, post-doctoral researcher in the Geomorphology Section at GFZ, said: “With the help of the seismic approach, we can now for the first time sense, record and process this cyclical phenomenon continuously and almost at real-time.

“We have currently shown the proof of concept, so to speak, and now the results have to be repeated elsewhere.”

source: express.co.uk