Sarennes, un bassin versant de recherche et d'expérimentation nivo-glaciaire, cinquante années d'études

Sarennnes, a catchment area for nivo-glacial research and experiments: fifty years of studies

Cemagref, division Erosion torrentielle neige et avalanches

Abstract

The basin of Sarennes is located in the French Alps, more precisely in the Grande Rousses range, 30 km east of Grenoble. The catchment area reaches some 30 square kilometers with a small glacier studied since 1948. Hydrologic studies started in 1991 with the installation of 3 gauging stations at 2720 m., 2050 m. and 1450 meters of altitude. An automatic snow gauge called "telenivometer" and a simplified meteorological station were installed close to the laboratory-hut at the altitude of 2700 m., nearby the glacier tongue. In 1991, the Sarennes basin was selected for the ERB club (European Research Basin). This paper provides a description of This basin unique in France due to its glacial and snowy components. Mass balance evolution for the last half century shows an annual loss of 0.6 meters of water equivalent and we present the first hydrologic results and the ultimate results of the field 1998-99 campaign.