This activity has been carried out within the framework of the European project PERMAPYRENEES – PERMAFROST IN THE PYRENEES: THE CHANGING MOUNTAIN
The Pyrenees are the mountain chain in southern Europe where the cryosphere plays a crucial role in hydrological, geomorphological and environmental processes. Recent climate change has caused a reduction in the snow cover and the imminent disappearance of the Pyrenean glaciers. However, very little is still known about permafrost (permanently frozen ground).
Permapyrenees is a three-year Interreg POCTEFA project, Co-Financed by the European Union, which is based on the study of permafrost, and will generate new indicators for monitoring climate change. This project will also serve to monitor and prevent risks arising from the degradation of permafrost (e.g. instability of slopes or rockfalls), which in recent years have affected heavily frequented mountain routes and some infrastructures.
The project collaborators are Andorra Recerca + Innovació; Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Urban Planning (CEREMA); Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC); Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC); Kilian Jornet Foundation (KJF); University of Barcelona (UB); University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD).
And as associates the following entities; Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne (EDYTEM); High Mountain Physical Geography Research Group (GFAM); Ordesa – Viñamala Biosphere Reserve; PANGEA; National Park of Aigües Tortes and Estany de Sant Maurici; Natural Park of the High Pyrenees; Meteorological Service of Catalonia.