Alpine rockwall erosion patterns follow elevation-dependent climate trajectories

Abstract Mountainous topography reflects an interplay between tectonic uplift, crustal strength, and climate-conditioned erosion cycles. During glaciations, glacial increases bedrock relief, whereas during interglacials relief is lowered by rockwall erosion. Here, we show that paraglacial, frost cracking permafrost processes jointly drive postglacial in our research area. Field observations modelling experiments demonstrate all three are strongly conditioned elevation. Our findings on catchment scale provide a potential multi-process explanation for the increase of rates with elevation across European Alps. As alpine basins warm deglaciation, changing intensities elevation-dependent interactions periglacial paraglacial result elevational shifts patterns. Future climate warming will shift intensity distribution these processes, resulting overall lower Alps, but more intensified at highest most sensitive to change.