Abstract: The Maladeta protalus lobe is located in the Maladetas massif (Central Pyrenees). A detailed geomorphologic map, RTK-GPS techniques, bottom temperature of the winter snowcover (BTS) technique and datalogger to monitor the ground thermal regime were used to reveal the present-day activity of the protalus lobe and its location in a mountain permafrost environment. Systematic monitoring using differential GPS at eight fixed points throughout the surface of the protalus lobe shows vertical and horizontal displacements during the field surveys of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The recorded dynamic defines a periglacial landform with low activity and rapid interannual variations in a thermal imbalance state. The location of protalus lobe in marginal periglacial environments of the temperate high mountain makes it an effective morphoclimatic geoindicator.

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