Debris-flow activity and snow avalanches in a steep watershed of the Valais Alps (Switzerland): Dendrogeomorphic event reconstruction and identification of triggers

Geomorphology

Volumn 116, Issue 1-2, 2010, Pages 107-114

  Szymczak, Sonja ^a   Bollschweiler, Michelle ^b,c   Stoffel, Markus ^b,c   Dikau, Richard ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF BONN   (Germany)

^b UNIVERSITY OF BERN   (Switzerland)

^c UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

Broad leaved trees; Conifers; Debris flow; Dendrogeomorphology; Seasonality; Snow avalanche; Triggering

Indexed keywords

AVALANCHE; BROAD-LEAVED FOREST; CONIFEROUS FOREST; DEBRIS FLOW; DENDROCHRONOLOGY; GEOMORPHOLOGY; SEASONALITY; TREE RING; WATERSHED;

SWITZERLAND; VALAIS;

CONIFEROPHYTA;

EID: 75749138039     PISSN: 0169555X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.10.012     Document Type: Article

References (55)

1. Alestalo J. Dendrochronological interpretation of geomorphic processes. Fennia 105 (1971) 1-140
2. Arbellay, E., Stoffel, M., Bollschweiler, M., in press. Dendrogeomorphic reconstruction of past debris-flow activity using injured broad-leaved trees. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.
3. Bacchini M., and Zannoni A. Relations between rainfall and triggering of debris-flow: case study of Cancia (Dolomites, northeastern Italy). Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 3 (2003) 71-79
4. Bollschweiler M., and Stoffel M. Debris-flows on forested cones - reconstruction and comparison of frequencies in two catchments in Val Ferret, Switzerland. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 7 (2007) 207-218
5. Bollschweiler M., Stoffel M., Ehmisch M., and Monbaron M. Reconstructing spatio-temporal patterns of debris-flow activity with dendrogeomorphologic methods. Geomorphology 87 4 (2007) 337-351
6. Bollschweiler M., Stoffel M., and Schneuwly D. Dynamics in debris-flow activity on a forested cone - A case study using different dendroecological approaches. Catena 72 (2008) 67-78
7. Boucher D., Filion L., and Hétu B. Reconstitution dendrochronologique et fréquence des grosses avalanches de neige dans un couloir subalpin du mont Hog's Back, en Gaspésie centrale (Québec). Géographie Physique et Quaternaire 57 (2003) 159-168 (in French)
8. Bräker O.U. Measuring and data processing in tree-ring research - a methodological introduction. Dendrochronologia 20 (2002) 203-216
9. Bryant C.L., Butler D.R., and Vitek J.D. A statistical analysis of tree-ring dating in conjunction with snow avalanches: comparison of on-path versus off-path responses. Environmental Geology and Water Sciences 14 1 (1989) 53-59
10. Butler D.R., and Sawyer C.F. Dendrogeomorphology and high-magnitude snow avalanches: a review and case study. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 8 (2008) 303-309
11. Bundesamt für Wasser und Geologie (BWG). Hochwasser 2000 - Les crues 2000. Serie Wasser 2. Berichte des Bundesamtes für Wasser und Geologie, Berne, Switzerland (2002) 248 pp. (in German)
12. Caine N. The rainfall intensity-duration control of shallow landslides and debris flows. Geografiska Annaler 62A 1-2 (1980) 23-27
13. Cannon S.H., and Ellen S.D. Rainfall conditions for abundant debris avalanches in the San Francisco Bay region, California. California Geology 38 12 (1985) 267-272
14. Casteller A., Stöckli V., Villalba R., and Mayer A.C. An evaluation of dendroecological indicators of snow avalanches in the Swiss Alps. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 39 2 (2007) 218-228
15. Casteller A., Christen M., Villalba R., Martínez H., Stöckli V., Leiva J.C., and Bartelt P. Validating numerical simulations of snow avalanches using dendrochronology: the Cerro Ventana event in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 8 (2008) 433-443
16. Cook E.R., and Kairiukstis L.A. Methods of Dendrochronology - Applications in the Environmental Sciences (1990), Kluwer, London
17. Corominas J., Remondo J., Farias P., Estevao M., Zézere J., Díaz, de Terán J., Dikau R., Schrott L., Moya J., and González A. Debris flow. In: Dikau R., Brunsden D., Schrott L., and Ibsen M.-L. (Eds). Landslide Recognition: Identification, Movement and Causes (1996), Wiley, Chichester, UK 161-180
18. Dubé S., Filion L., and Hétu B. Tree-ring reconstruction of high-magnitude snow avalanches in the northern Gaspé Peninsula, Québec, Canada. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 36 (2004) 555-564
19. Graf C., Badoux A., Dufour F., Fritschi B., McArdell B.W., Rhyner J., Kuntner R., Teysseire P., and Nigg U. Alarmsysteme für murgangfähige Wildbäche-Beispiel Illgraben. in German. Wasser, Energie, Luft 99 2 (2007) 119-128
20. Gruber U., and Margreth S. Winter 1999: a valuable test of the avalanche-hazard mapping procedure in Switzerland. Annals of Glaciology 32 1 (2001) 328-332
21. Guzzetti F., Peruccacci S., Rossi M., and Stark C.P. The rainfall intensity-duration control of shallow landslides and debris flows: an update. Landslides 5 (2008) 3-17
22. Hebertson E.G., and Jenkins M.J. Historic climate factors associated with major avalanche years on the Wasatch Plateau, Utah. Cold Regions Science and Technology 37 (2003) 315-332
23. Jakob M., and Hungr O. Debris-Flow Hazards and Related Phenomena (2005), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York
24. Kanton Wallis, 2008. Internetseite des Kantons Wallis. http://www.vs-wallis.ch/unwetter/main3.html (site accessed 14 November 2008).
25. Kolenko A. Prozessorientierte Analyse eines Wildbaches unter Berücksichtigung von Murgängen. In: Schleis A. (Ed). Collection des articles des travaux de diplôme. Communication 17 du Laboratoire de Constructions Hydrauliques, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne (2004) 133-143 in German
26. McClung D.M., and Schweizer J. Skier triggering, snow temperatures and the stability index for dry slab avalanche initiation. Journal of Glaciology 45 150 (1999) 190-200
27. MeteoSwiss, 2008. Precipitation records of the Swiss Meteorological Institute weather stations Sierre and Sion. http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/de/weather.html (site accessed 14 November 2008).
28. Mundo I.A., Barrera M.D., and Roig F.A. Testing the utility of Nothofagus pumilio for dating snow avalanche in Tierra del Fuego, Argentinia. Dendrochronologia 25 (2007) 19-28
29. Municipality of Agarn, 2008. Homepage of the municipality of Agarn. www.agarn.ch (site accessed 14 November 2008).
30. Muntán E., Andreu L., Oller P., Gutiérrez E., and Martínez P. Dendrochronological study of the Canal del Roc Roig avalanche path: first results of the Aludex project in the Pyrenees. Annals of Glaciology 38 1 (2004) 173-179
31. National Research Council. Snow avalanche hazards and mitigation in the United States (1990), National Academy Press, Washington, DC
32. Patten R.S., and Knight D.H. Snow avalanches and vegetation pattern in Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. Arctic and Alpine Research 26 (1994) 35-41
33. Pelfini M., and Santilli M. Frequency of debris flows and their relation with precipitation. A case study in the Central Alps, Italy. Geomorphology 101 (2008) 721-730
34. Rickenmann D., and Zimmermann M. The 1987 debris flows in Switzerland: documentation and analysis. Geomorphology 8 (1993) 175-189
35. Rinntech, 2008. Lintab - precision ring by ring http://www.rintech.com/Products/Lintab.htm (site accessed 16 October 2008).
36. Schneuwly D.M., Stoffel M., and Bollschweiler M. Formation and spread of callus tissue and tangential rows of resin ducts in Larix decidua and Picea abies following rockfall impacts. Tree Physiology 29 (2009) 281-289
37. Schneuwly D.M., Stoffel M., Dorren L.K.A., and Berger F. Three-dimensional analysis of the anatomical growth response of European conifers to mechanical disturbance. Tree Physiology 29 (2009) 1247-1257
38. Schweingruber F.H. Tree Rings and Environment. Dendroecology (1996), Paul Haupt Verlag, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien
39. Schweizer J., Jamieson J.B., and Schneebeli M. Snow avalanche formation. Reviews of Geophysics 41 4 (2003) 1016
40. Shroder J.F. Dendrogeomorphology: review and new techniques of tree-ring dating. Progress in Physical Geography 4 (1980) 161-188
41. Schnee und Lawinenforschung Davos (SLF), 2000. Der Lawinenwinter 1999. Ereignisanalyse. Switzerland Eidg. Institut für Schnee und Lawinenforschung, Davos. (in German).
42. Stoffel M. Dating past geomorphic processes with tangential rows of traumatic resin ducts. Dendrochronologia 26 1 (2008) 53-60
43. Stoffel, M., in press, Magnitude-frequency relationships of debris flows - a case study based on field surveys and tree-ring records. Geomorphology. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.10.009.
44. Stoffel M., and Beniston M. On the incidence of debris flows from the early Little Ice Age to a future greenhouse climate: a case study from the Swiss Alps. Geophysical Research Letters 33 (2006) L16404
45. Stoffel M., and Bollschweiler M. Tree-ring analysis in natural hazards research - an overview. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 8 (2008) 187-202
46. Stoffel M., and Bollschweiler M. What tree rings can tell about earth-surface processes. Teaching the principles of dendrogeomorphology. Geography Compass 3 (2009) 1013-1037
47. Stoffel M., and Hitz O.M. Snow avalanche and rockfall impacts leave different anatomical signatures in tree rings of Larix decidua. Tree Physiology 28 11 (2008) 1713-1720
48. Stoffel M., Lièvre I., Conus D., Grichting M.A., Raetzo H., Gärtner H.W., and Monbaron M. 400 years of debris flow activity and triggering weather conditions: Ritigraben, Valais, Switzerland. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 37 (2005) 387-395
49. Stoffel M., Lièvre I., Monbaron M., and Perret S. Seasonal timing of rockfall activity on a forested slope at Täschgufer (Swiss Alps) - a dendrochonological approach. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 49 1 (2005) 89-106
50. Stoffel M., Bollschweiler M., and Hassler G.R. Differentiating events on a cone influenced by debris-flow and snow avalanche activity - a dendrogeomorphological approach. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 31 11 (2006) 1424-1437
51. Stoffel M., Conus D., Grichting M.A., Lièvre I., and Gilles M. Unraveling the patterns of late Holocene debris-flow activity on a cone in the Swiss Alps: chronology, environment and implications for the future. Global and Planetary Change 60 (2008) 222-234
52. Stoffel M., Bollschweiler M., Leutwiler A., and Aeby P. Tree-ring reconstruction of debris-flow events leading to overbank sedimentation on the Illgraben cone (Valais Alps, Switzerland). The Open Geology Journal 2 (2008) 18-29
53. Strunk H. Dating of geomorphological processes using dendrogeomorphological methods. Catena 31 (1997) 137-151
54. Wilkerson F.D., and Schmid G.L. Debris flows in Glacier National Park, Montana: geomorphology and hazards. Geomorphology 55 (2003) 317-328
55. Zimmermann M., Mani P., and Romang H. Magnitude-frequency aspects of alpine debris flows. Eclogae Geologicae Helveticae 90 (1997) 415-420