Dynamic characteristics of snow avalanches and their spatial patterns in typical regions of the Central Tianshan Mountains
Online published: 2019-07-15
Snow avalanches frequently occur in the central Tianshan Mountains during winter and spring, seriously threatening regional transportation, life, and property. However, their dynamic characteristics and spatial distribution remain unclear. Moreover, the evolution of avalanche dynamics across different motion stages and paths remains unclear, hindering scientific hazard assessment. Based on field investigations and remote sensing data, this study examines 76 avalanches that occurred during the mid-winter of a typical year in an avalanche-prone area of the central Tianshan Mountains. The spatial distribution characteristics of regional snow avalanches were analyzed, and their dynamic characteristics and spatiotemporal evolution were investigated using the RAMMS avalanche model. The results indicate the following: (1) Mid-winter avalanches in the study area are primarily triggered by continuous snowfall and snowstorms, with drastic diurnal temperature fluctuations acting as the inducing factor. Most avalanches are small in scale (approximately 88%), occur on sunny slopes (59%), and occur on slopes of 25°-50° (88%). (2) Dynamic characteristics differed substantially among different avalanche sites: release volumes ranged from 8.5 to 672.2 m3, maximum flow heights from 0.33 to 2.05 m, maximum flow velocities from 2.8 to 15.1 m·s-1, and maximum impact pressures from 1.84 to 68.65 kPa. Runout distance and slope gradient markedly influenced avalanche dynamics. (3) A typical avalanche lasts approximately 130 s. Velocity and impact pressure increase during the initial stage, kinetic energy remains relatively high during sliding, and dynamic forces diminish during deposition. Flow height along the motion path first decreases and increases, whereas impact pressure first increases and decreases, with both trends markedly influenced by terrain convergence. These findings reveal the dynamic characteristics of snow avalanches in typical regions of the central Tianshan Mountains and provide references for regional avalanche prevention and transportation risk management.
DU Shuailiang, YANG Jinming, HUANG Farong, FENG Ting, LI Hongda, YANG ZhiWei, WEI Wenyu, LI Lanhai . Dynamic characteristics of snow avalanches and their spatial patterns in typical regions of the Central Tianshan Mountains[J]. Arid Zone Research, 0 : 1 -16 . DOI: 10.13866/j.azr.2026.09.02
/
| 〈 |
|
〉 |