Snowiness as a factor for assessing the avalanche activity in poorly explored mountainous areas (on the example of the Baikal region)

The relevance of the study of snowiness in the Baikal region is due to the long-term existence of a stable snow cover, which determines the development of such dangerous natural phenomena as snow runup, snow loads, snow flows and avalanches, which can cause a serious damage to the infrastructure facil up, snow loads, snow flows and avalanches, which can cause a serious damage to the infrastructure facilities. The problem is aggravated by the lack of comprehensive studies of nival phenomena, which are not taken into account in the construction of such important industrial facilities as railway bridges, power lines, railways and highways. The purpose of the article is to assess the risks of unfavorable and dangerous phenomena of a nival nature in the Baikal region, as well as to develop methods of protection against them. The results of observations are presented. The total amount of precipitation was determined. The dynamics of snowfall indicators as indicators of the avalanche formation regime in the mountains of the Baikal region was carried out. The chronology of winters with different snowfall indicators was reconstructed. The amount of precipitation in the cold period was taken as a basic indicator. A scheme for assessing snowiness for poorly studied areas was developed. The calculation of values of the spatial correlation of snowfall indicators was carried out, which made it possible to identify areas with synchronous fluctuations in the amount of precipitation of the cold season for many years. It was established that dependences of the snow cover height and snow reserves on the terrain height remained unchanged. The dependences of snow cover indicators on different factors were identified.

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The geographical prerequisites for the identification and prevention of dangerous geomorphological processes in the mountain geosystems of the Alpine-Himalayan belt (on the example of the Major Caucasus of Azerbaijan)

Journal of Geology Geography and Geoecology ◽

10.15421/112016 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 176-187

Author(s):

Stara A. Tarikhazer

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Natural Phenomena ◽

Mountainous Areas ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Natural Processes ◽

Himalayan Belt ◽

Himalayan Orogenic Belt ◽

Geomorphological Processes ◽

The Stability

Destructive natural phenomena are a serious, sometimes unsolvable, regional and local environmental and socioeconomic problem. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of materials from long-term geomorphological studies in the mountainous areas on the example of the Major Caucasus of Azerbaijan. The dangerous geomorphological processes on the example of the Major Caucasus of Azerbaijan were investigated in detail using large-scale maps, satellite imagery and aerial photography. Geomorphological maps were drawn (map of mudflow hazard and map of landslide hazard in the Azerbaijani part of the Major Caucasus). The research determined the dangerous zones where landslides could cover 65–70% of the total area and outlined the zones and regularities of spread of various types of mudflow origination sites. The analysis of the manifestations of most active (with catastrophic consequences) destructive natural processes and the morphotectonic structure of the studied area showed that the their occurrence and maximum intensity was confined to the weakest plexuses of mountains – intersections of faults and fractures of various directions and orders. A technique for assessing the eco-geomorphological risk to prevent dangerous natural phenomena was offered. The technique is based on the detection of zones with intensive geomorphological processes, which are often not dangerous separately, but could have catastrophic consequences together. The results obtained during the assessment of the effect of natural and man-caused factors on the stability of montane ecosystems may be used to forecast dangerous natural phenomena and to research geodynamical dangerous geomorphological process not only in Azerbaijan, but also in other regions of the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt. The obtained results can be used to plan and perform economic activities, determine and minimize the hazards and risks of occurrence of dangerous natural phenomena, and forecast such phenomena in the future.

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Long-term dynamics of snow cover in the Baikal region

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/611/1/012007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 611 ◽

pp. 012007

Author(s):

A A Matyukhina ◽

N N Voropay

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Baikal Region

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Soil and ecological division into districts of the Baikal region

Geodesy and Cartography ◽

10.22389/0016-7126-2018-940-10-54-64 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 940 (10) ◽

pp. 54-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I.A. Belozertseva ◽

A.A. Sorokovoj

Keyword(s):

Baikal Region ◽

Soil Cover ◽

Soil Formation ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Leading Role ◽

Soil Cover Structure ◽

Reflecting Surface ◽

Heat And Moisture ◽

Made In

On the basis of long-term researches of soils in the territory of Russia and Mongolia soil and ecological division into districts of the Baikal region is carried out. At division into districts the whole set of an environment of soil formation was considered. On the map of soil and ecological division into districts 13 mountain, mid-mountain, low-mountain taiga, foothill, hollow-valley, forest-steppe and steppe provinces reflecting surface device originality as the ratio of balance of heat and moisture forming a basis to zoning is shown against the background of difficult orography are allocated. In total 42 districts on lithologic-geomorphological features are allocated. In formation of distinctions of a soil cover of these provinces the leading role is played by bioclimatic factors and inside them the lithologic-geomorphological ones. In the view of structural approach of the district they are considered as territories with a certain natural change of several types of the soil cover structure caused by features of a relief and the parent rock. The map is made in the MapInfo program. It is revealed that on ill-defined width zoning of soils the vertical one which has a greater influence on soils of this region is imposed. Soils of the Baikal region are not similar to the soils located at the same latitude of the flat European territory of Russia. Zone soils of this territory are specific and original.

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The Spatiotemporal Patterns and Interrelationships of Snow Cover and Climate Change in Tianshan Mountains

Water ◽

10.3390/w13040404 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 404

Author(s):

Tong Heng ◽

Xinlin He ◽

Lili Yang ◽

Jiawen Yu ◽

Yulin Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Snow Water Equivalent ◽

Warming Trend ◽

Tianshan Mountains ◽

Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽

Tianshan Mountain ◽

Mountainous Areas ◽

The Future ◽

Snow Water ◽

Nighttime Warming

To reveal the spatiotemporal patterns of the asymmetry in the Tianshan mountains’ climatic warming, in this study, we analyzed climate and MODIS snow cover data (2001–2019). The change trends of asymmetrical warming, snow depth (SD), snow coverage percentage (SCP), snow cover days (SCD) and snow water equivalent (SWE) in the Tianshan mountains were quantitatively determined, and the influence of asymmetrical warming on the snow cover activity of the Tianshan mountains were discussed. The results showed that the nighttime warming rate (0.10 °C per decade) was greater than the daytime, and that the asymmetrical warming trend may accelerate in the future. The SCP of Tianshan mountain has reduced by 0.9%. This means that for each 0.1 °C increase in temperature, the area of snow cover will reduce by 5.9 km2. About 60% of the region’s daytime warming was positively related to SD and SWE, and about 48% of the region’s nighttime warming was negatively related to SD and SWE. Temperature increases were concentrated mainly in the Pamir Plateau southwest of Tianshan at high altitudes and in the Turpan and Hami basins in the east. In the future, the western and eastern mountainous areas of the Tianshan will continue to show a warming trend, while the central mountainous areas of the Tianshan mountains will mainly show a cooling trend.

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MATLAB Virtual Toolbox for Retrospective Rockfall Source Detection and Volume Estimation Using 3D Point Clouds: A Case Study of a Subalpine Molasse Cliff

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences11020075 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 75

Author(s):

Dario Carrea ◽

Antonio Abellan ◽

Marc-Henri Derron ◽

Neal Gauvin ◽

Michel Jaboyedoff

Keyword(s):

Point Cloud ◽

Natural Hazard ◽

Point Clouds ◽

Volume Estimation ◽

Natural Phenomena ◽

Frequency Distributions ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

3D Point Clouds

The use of 3D point clouds to improve the understanding of natural phenomena is currently applied in natural hazard investigations, including the quantification of rockfall activity. However, 3D point cloud treatment is typically accomplished using nondedicated (and not optimal) software. To fill this gap, we present an open-source, specific rockfall package in an object-oriented toolbox developed in the MATLAB® environment. The proposed package offers a complete and semiautomatic 3D solution that spans from extraction to identification and volume estimations of rockfall sources using state-of-the-art methods and newly implemented algorithms. To illustrate the capabilities of this package, we acquired a series of high-quality point clouds in a pilot study area referred to as the La Cornalle cliff (West Switzerland), obtained robust volume estimations at different volumetric scales, and derived rockfall magnitude–frequency distributions, which assisted in the assessment of rockfall activity and long-term erosion rates. An outcome of the case study shows the influence of the volume computation on the magnitude–frequency distribution and ensuing erosion process interpretation.

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Geothermal modeling of soil or mine tailings with concurrent freezing and deposition

Canadian Geotechnical Journal ◽

10.1139/t97-081 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 234-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

JF (Derick) Nixon ◽

Nick Holl

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Mine Tailings ◽

Frozen Soil ◽

Freezing And Thawing ◽

Frozen Ground ◽

Geothermal Model ◽

Winter Time ◽

Upper Boundary ◽

Good Agreement

A geothermal model is described that simulates simultaneous deposition, freezing, and thawing of mine tailings or sequentially placed layers of embankment soil. When layers of soil or mine tailings are placed during winter subfreezing conditions, frozen layers are formed in the soil profile that may persist with time. The following summer, warmer soil placement may not be sufficient to thaw out layers from the preceding winter. Remnant frozen soil layers may persist for many years or decades. The analysis is unique, as it involves a moving upper boundary and different surface snow cover functions applied in winter time. The model is calibrated based on two uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan. The Rabbit Lake scenario involves tailings growth to a height of 120 m over a period of 24 years. At Key Lake, tailings increase in height at a rate of 1.3 m/year. Good agreement between the observed position of frozen layers and those predicted by the model is obtained. Long-term predictions indicate that from 80 to 200 years would be required to thaw out the frozen layers formed during placement, assuming 1992 placement conditions continue. Deposition rates of 1.5-3 m/year give the largest amounts of frozen ground. The amount of frozen ground is sensitive to the assumed snow cover function during winter.Key words: geothermal, model, tailings, freezing, deposition.

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Mapping and verification of the snow cover timing in the Baikal region by remote sensing data MODIS “snow cover”

Geodesy and Cartography ◽

10.22389/0016-7126-2021-973-7-21-31 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 973 (7) ◽

pp. 21-31

Author(s):

Е.А. Rasputina ◽

A.S. Korepova

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Spatial Resolution ◽

Baikal Region ◽

Remote Sensing Data ◽

Meteorological Station ◽

Sensing Data ◽

Modis Data ◽

Weather Stations ◽

The Difference

The mapping and analysis of the dates of onset and melting the snow cover in the Baikal region for 2000–2010 based on eight-day MODIS “snow cover” composites with a spatial resolution of 500 m, as well as their verification based on the data of 17 meteorological stations was carried out. For each year of the decennary under study, for each meteorological station, the difference in dates determined from the MODIS data and that of weather stations was calculated. Modulus of deviations vary from 0 to 36 days for onset dates and from 0 to 47 days – for those of stable snow cover melting, the average of the deviation modules for all meteorological stations and years is 9–10 days. It is assumed that 83 % of the cases for the onset dates can be considered admissible (with deviations up to 16 days), and 79 % of them for the end dates. Possible causes of deviations are analyzed. It was revealed that the largest deviations correspond to coastal meteorological stations and are associated with the inhomogeneity of the characteristics of the snow cover inside the pixels containing water and land. The dates of onset and melting of a stable snow cover from the images turned out to be later than those of weather stations for about 10 days. First of all (from the end of August to the middle of September), the snow is established on the tops of the ranges Barguzinsky, Baikalsky, Khamar-Daban, and later (in late November–December) a stable cover appears in the Barguzin valley, in the Selenga lowland, and in Priolkhonye. The predominant part of the Baikal region territory is covered with snow in October, and is released from it in the end of April till the middle of May.

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