Geomorphic Significance of Avalanches in the Lake Louise Area, Alberta, Canada

Gardner, James S.

doi:10.2307/1550348

Cited by 64 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Snow blocks in the avalanche debris at the base of the avalanche boulder tongue in 1969 indicate that the snow cover of the talus slope had failed by slab avalanching. This evidence, plus the results discussed below indicates that avalanche modification of these talus slopes occurs as a result of avalanches triggered in the snow cover of the talus itself and that slab avalanches, as well as spring snow avalanches, may be of considerable geomorphic significance (Rapp, 1960;Gardner, 1970).…”

Section: Old Nip Sitementioning

confidence: 96%

“…However, TABLE V Temporal variation in snowfall and avalanche activity. Jasper National Park, 1967-198119671968196919701971197219741975197819801981 A initial observations indicated that rockfall amounts were seriously under-estimated because of the basal location of many sample sites, the sampling methods used and the problem of differentiating mixed deposits. In addition, avalanche incorporation of talus material made it impossible to establish the immediate source of avalanche-transported debris.…”

Section: Evaluation Of Geomorphic Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Debris Accumulation Patterns on Talus Slopes in Surprise Valley, Alberta

Luckman¹

2007

gpq

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This paper presents the results of the measurement of debris accumulation processes, patterns and volumes at seven sites over a 13-year period in Surprise Valley, Alberta, Canada. Mean accumulation rates range up to ca 5 mm/yr and are strongly influenced by the amount and frequency of snow avalanche activity. All talus slopes studied experienced avalanches during the 13-year period and avalanche erosion is important in modifying and reworking the surface of these slopes. Mapped depositional patterns on selected slopes indicate deposition is more probable and usually greater on upper an middle slopes but avalanche erosion may result in greater volumes of deposition on lower slopes in some years (almost one year in two at the most active sites). There is high year-to-year and site-tosite variation in avalanche activity indicating that local, site specific controls are the most important determinant of depositional patterns. Rockfall amounts are underestimated by the point sampling techniques used in this study. Limited available data suggest rockfall inputs to the talus exceed those by snow avalanches (much of the avalanche deposition is reworked from upslope) and a least two major debris-flow generating events were recorded over a 13-year period.On présente ici les résultats de mesures prises au cours d'une période de 13 ans sur les processus, les modes de mise en place et le volume des débris dans Surprise Valley, en Alberta. Les taux d'accumulation moyens s'élèvent jusqu'à environ 5 mm/an et sont grandement dépendants de la quantité et de la fréquence des avalanches. Tous les talus d'éboulis ont été affectés par les avalanches au cours de ces 13 années, et l'érosion provoquée par les avalanches est importante en ce qu'elle modifie et remanie la surface des versants. Les modes de mise en place sur quelques versants choisies démontrent que l'accumulation est davantage probable et plus importante dans les parties supérieures et moyennes des versants, mais que l'érosion par les avalanches peut donner de plus grandes accumulations dans les parties inférieures des versants selon les années (presque un an sur deux aux sites les plus actifs). On note une forte variation de l'activité des avalanches d'une année à l'autre et d'un site à l'autre, démontrant ainsi que les forces locales spécifiques à chacun des sites sont les éléments les plus importants déterminant le mode d'accumulation. Selon les techniques utilisés dans ce travail, les éboulis rocheux sont sous-estimés. Les quelques données disponibles laissent croire que les débris produits par les éboulis rocheux sur les talus sont plus volumineux que ceux résultant des avalanches (la plus grande partie de l'accumulation entraînée par les avalanches est remaniée à partir de la partie supérieure de la pente). Au moins deux événements importants responsables de coulées de débris ont été enregistrées au cours des 13 années.Dieser Artikel stellt die Messungsergebnisse von Verlauf, Anordnung und Volumen der Gesteinstrummeranhàufung dar, die ùber einen Zeitraum von 13 Jahre...

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Section: Old Nip Sitementioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Evaluation Of Geomorphic Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Debris Accumulation Patterns on Talus Slopes in Surprise Valley, Alberta

Luckman¹

2007

gpq

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“…Transport of rock debris by wet snow avalanches has been quantitatively documented in a number of previous studies, including Allix (1924), Rapp (1960), Gardner (1970Gardner ( , 1983, Luckman (1977Luckman ( , 1978; Ackroyd (1986), Bell et al (1990), Heckmann et al (2005), Sass et al (2010), and Freppaz et al (2010). These observational investigations laid the important foundation for evaluating the erosional efficacy of wet snow avalanches in predominantly alpine settings and were conducted in response to a perceived paucity of such measurements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Sediment Transport and Bedrock Erosion by Wet Snow Avalanches in the Guggigraben, Matter Valley, Switzerland

Moore

Egloff

Nagelisen

et al. 2013

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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“…Other topographic attributes, such as elevation, also play an important role in rockfall activity. At higher elevations, the strength of freeze-thaw cycles and humidity from rain or snowfall causes rock disintegration (Gardner, 1970;Duarte & Marquı´nez, 2002).…”

Section: Influence Of Climatic and Environmental Factors In Rockfall mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Battle, 1960;Matsuoka, 1990a).The laboratory-derived criteria were applied to field-based observations of rock temperature, moisture and bedrock disintegration (e.g. Gardner, 1970;Thorn, 1979;Matsuoka, 1990b).…”

Section: Climate and Rockfall Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Controls on Rockfall-Talus Process-Response Systems, Kananaskis, Canadian Rockies

Thapa¹

2017

Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs

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Rockfall processes are important contributors to hillslope erosion in mountainous regions.Assessment of rockfall activity processes over regional scales has not been widely undertaken, and further assessment about controls of rockfall-talus processes is required.The present study investigates rockfall-talus processes over extended spatiotemporal scales in Kananaskis, Canadian Rockies utilizing aerial photographs, digital elevation models, geologic and paleoclimatic data. An inventory of talus deposits in fifth-order drainage basins was collected for Kananaskis, with rockfall erosion rates of 2.9 mm yr -1 . Resultsshow a strong association of talus with faults and cirques. Although frost cracking is likely an important process leading to rockfall erosion, reconstructed temperature data suggests frost cracking alone is not the major determinant of locations of rockfall activity and talus deposition. Findings of this study provide important information on the contribution and controls of rockfall activity that can be utilized to better understand landscape evolution in mountainous regions.iii

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Geomorphic Significance of Avalanches in the Lake Louise Area, Alberta, Canada

Cited by 64 publications

References 6 publications

Debris Accumulation Patterns on Talus Slopes in Surprise Valley, Alberta

Debris Accumulation Patterns on Talus Slopes in Surprise Valley, Alberta

Sediment Transport and Bedrock Erosion by Wet Snow Avalanches in the Guggigraben, Matter Valley, Switzerland

Controls on Rockfall-Talus Process-Response Systems, Kananaskis, Canadian Rockies

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