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Debris flow recurrence periods and multi-temporal observations of colluvial fan evolution in central Spitsbergen (Svalbard)

Bernhardt, H. and Reiss, Dennis and Hiesinger, H. and Hauber, Ernst and Johnsson, Andreas (2017) Debris flow recurrence periods and multi-temporal observations of colluvial fan evolution in central Spitsbergen (Svalbard). Geomorphology, 296, pp. 132-141. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.08.049. ISSN 0169-555X.

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Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X17303604

Abstract

Fan-shaped accumulations of debris flow deposits are common landforms in polar regions such as Svalbard. Although depositional processes in these environments are of high interest to climate as well as Mars-analog research, several parameters, e.g., debris flow recurrence periods, remain poorly constrained. Here, we present an investigation based on remote sensing as well as in situ data of a ~ 0.4 km2 large colluvial fan in Hanaskogdalen, central Spitsbergen. We analyzed high resolution satellite and aerial images covering five decades from 1961 to 2014 and correlated them with lichenometric dating as well as meteorological data. Image analyses and lichenometry deliver consistent results and show that the recurrence period of large debris flows (≥ 400 m3) is about 5 to 10 years, with smaller flows averaging at two per year in the period from 2008 to 2013. While this is up to two orders of magnitude shorter than previous estimates for Svalbard (80 to 500 years), we found the average volume of ~ 220 m3 per individual flow to be similar to previous estimates for the region. Image data also reveal that an avulsion took place between 1961 and 1976, when the active part of the fan moved from its eastern to its western portion. A case study of the effects of a light rain event (~ 5 mm/day) in the rainy summer of 2013, which triggered a large debris flow, further shows that even light precipitation can trigger major flows. This is made possible by multiple light rain events or gradual snow melt pre-saturating the permafrost ground and has to be taken into account when predicting the likelihood of potentially hazardous mass wasting in polar regions. Furthermore, our findings imply a current net deposition rate on the colluvial fan of ~ 480 m3/year, which is slightly less than the integrated net deposition rate of 576 to 720 m3/year resulting from the current fan volume divided by the 12,500 to 10,000 years since the onset of fan build-up after the area's deglaciation. However, the actual deposition rate, which should increase in a warmer climate including more rain, cannot be constrained due to effects like ongoing toe-cutting of the debris fan and some flows only causing internal redistributions.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/116416/
Document Type:Article
Title:Debris flow recurrence periods and multi-temporal observations of colluvial fan evolution in central Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Bernhardt, H.institut für planetologie, westfälische wilhelms-universität, münsterUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Reiss, Dennisinstitut für planetologie, westfälische wilhelms‐universität münster, münster, germanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Hiesinger, H.westfälische wilhelms-universität münsterUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Hauber, ErnstUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1375-304XUNSPECIFIED
Johnsson, Andreasdepartment of earth sciences, university of gothenburg, göteborg, swedenUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date:2017
Journal or Publication Title:Geomorphology
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:No
Gold Open Access:No
In SCOPUS:Yes
In ISI Web of Science:Yes
Volume:296
DOI:10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.08.049
Page Range:pp. 132-141
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0169-555X
Status:Published
Keywords:Svalbard, debris flows, water, Permafrost, Mars
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport
HGF - Program:Space
HGF - Program Themes:Space Exploration
DLR - Research area:Raumfahrt
DLR - Program:R EW - Space Exploration
DLR - Research theme (Project):R - Project Mars Express HRSC (old)
Location: Berlin-Adlershof
Institutes and Institutions:Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Geology
Deposited By: Hauber, Ernst
Deposited On:30 Nov 2017 14:51
Last Modified:30 Nov 2017 14:51

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