Ice aprons on steep high-alpine slopes: insights from the Mont-Blanc massif, Western Alps

Abstract Ice aprons are defined as very small ice bodies covering steep rock slopes. They have only been the subject of increased scientific interest for a few years, despite fact that they condition mountaineering and obvious elements in high-alpine landscapes. However, little is known about their distribution, evolution physical characteristics. In this paper, we review existing knowledge on aprons, which almost exclusively investigated Mont-Blanc massif, Western Alps. We supplement with novel results from recent surveys aprons. used wide array methodologies, remote sensing (multi-source imagery) to situ (stakes thermal monitoring) laboratory (radiocarbon dating texture analysis) glaciological investigations. occupy 4.2 km 2 within alpine permafrost zone. Temperature measured at ice–rock interface indeed largely negative. Thinness coupled cold context implies quasi-stationary shear regime without basal Sliding. Only surface can possibly melt warm periods. After shrinking period end Little Age mid-to-late-1960s, experienced short expansion, followed by an accelerated shrinkage since beginning 21st century. This now favours rockfall triggering poses serious threat heritage host several-thousand-year-old ice. Finally, synthesize information assess definition propose some future research directions.