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| Titel |
A quantitative and qualitative study on risk perception of multiple rockfall hazards in the Zugspitze Mountains (German/Austrian Alps) |
| VerfasserIn |
Sebastian Pisi, Michael Krautblatter, Richard Dikau, Christoph Dittrich |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2011
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 13 (2011) |
| Datensatznummer |
250053704
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The intended purpose of this project is to evaluate and differentiate the actual (“objective”)
risk and the individual (“subjective”) perception of rockfall risks in the Wetterstein Alps
(Zugspitze Region). We aim to highlight discrepancies between the distinct knowledge on
potential threats and the individual behaviour in spite of the awareness of certain
threats.
In spite of the fact that both valleys in the Zugspitze Region, the Reintal and Höllental
show intense and well studied rockfall activity, they are highly frequented by tourists on their
way to the highest mountain of Germany (Zugspitze). An empirical method for a qualitative
and quantitative evaluation of risk perception and the individual knowledge about rockfall
hazards was developed and carried out in August 2010. The quantitative questionnaire was
answered by 130 hikers and the qualitative questionnaire was hereafter presented to a handful
of stake holders. The questionnaires refer to both, the knowledge on natural hazards and the
individual perception of the risk. On the one hand the questionnaire investigates the interface
of the physical rockfall hazard and social aspects of risk. On the other hand it explores the
correlation between the individual knowledge of the area, prior experience with rockfall
events, an estimation of the own mountaineering experience and the environmental
conditions during the hike. Hereafter, five responsible persons of mountain huts, which
are frequented by up to 1000 hikers and more per day, were confronted with the
preliminary quantitative results of the 130 hikers in a qualitative interview. The qualitative
interviews provide a detailed insight into the attitude of the mountaineering hut
leaseholders towards the risk perception of hikers and also explore their understanding of
the physical rockfall hazard, exposure of individuals, vulnerability and personal
experiences.
Given the fact of annual rising tourism figures around the Zugspitze and reminiscent of
changing regimes of permafrost and summer rainstorms that influence rockfall activity, we
want to evaluate how rockfall risk is perceived by hikers and how they adjust their behaviour.
The study reveals what information sources are considered in advance and what role personal
experience plays for the planning of a hiking trip. Here we show that several factors evidently
influence individual behaviour and act to orchestrate the exposure and vulnerability to the
hazard. |
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