Assessing the viability of electrical resistivity tomography for cirque sediment studies : new data from the Slovenian Alps

Cof, Klemen (avtor), Stepišnik, Uroš (avtor), Stefanovski, Sašo (avtor), Lipar, Matej (avtor), Žebre, Manja (avtor)

Investigating the thickness and composition of cirque sediments is essential for understanding postglacial geomorphic processes and constraining the timing of cirque deglaciation. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) offers a non-invasive means of investigating these subsurface deposits, but has rarely been applied to cirque environments. This study assesses ERT's capacity to differentiate glacial tills from postglacial sediments in two cirques with contrasting lithologies in the Slovenian Alps, accompanied by geomorphological mapping and grain size analysis. At the Mangrt cirque, ERT delineated the till-bedrock contact, revealing a till thickness of 2–8 m with resistivities of 100–900 Ωm, but could not differentiate tills from scree deposits. At the Raduha cirque, ERT differentiated till (120–600 Ωm) from fluvial sediments (20–200 Ωm), with the till thickness exceeding the 25–35 m depth of investigation. The difference in sediment thickness between the two cirques could be the result of lithological characteristics and their effect on glacial erosion and postglacial sediment dynamics. Karst drainage limited sediment supply and storage at the Mangrt cirque while weaker lithologies enabled prolonged paraglacial reworking and sediment deposition at the Raduha cirque, leading to a significant difference in sediment budgets. ERT is therefore a viable method for subsurface investigations of cirque sediments, particularly when paired with field mapping, and has provided tentative resistivity ranges for tills derived from two different lithologies.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: glacial geomorphology, glacial sediments, geomorphological mapping, geomorphological suervey, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), grain size analysis, Slovenia, Julian Alps, Kamnik-Savinja Alps
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FF - Filozofska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Datum sprejetja članka: 18.09.2026
• Datum objave: 23.09.2026
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 16 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 514, [article no.] 110554
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-189825
• UDK: 911.2:551.32(497.4)
• ISSN pri članku: 1872-695X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2026.110554
• COBISS.SI-ID: 293639939
• Datum objave v RUL: 16.10.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Geomorphology
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1872-695X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23121925

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: glacialna geomorfologija, ledeniški sedimenti, geomorfološko kartiranje, električna upornostna tomografija (ERT), analiza zrnatosti, Slovenija, Julijske Alpe, Kamniško Savinjske Alpe