Institute of Geological Sciences

170324 Berner Alpen

Media release 20170324 Bernese Alps Herwegh DE (PDF, 84KB)
Steile Störungszonen am Arpelistock und Ärelenhoren
Steep couloirs on the Arpelistock and Ärelenhoren (Hasli valley) show the steep fault zones (red lines) which were topographically shaped by erosion. Marco Herwegh, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern
Steile Störungszonen nördlich des Grimselsees
View of the granite bastion north of Grimsel Lake with glacially polished granite surfaces being heavily dissected by morphological incisions. These furrows (see arrows) are all the result of steep fault zones, which originated at a depth of 20 kilometres. Due to uplift and erosion, they are recognisable today on the earth’s surface as couloirs in the topography. Marco Herwegh, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern
Slab Rollback
Vertical cross-section through the Alps 15 million years ago. The European plate subducted under the African plate cannot go any deeper, as a result its upper mantle section sinks away to the north (slab rollback). The European lower crust detaches from the mantle and buoyancy forces allow the European crust to rise steeply. Marco Herwegh, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern
Eiger, Mönch und Jungfrau
The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are part of the striking front of the northern ridge of the Bernese Alps, which was formed due to the steep rise of rocks from the depths. Marco Herwegh, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern