Influence of rock mass strength on the erosion rate of alpine cliffs

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

MOORE, J.R.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Etats-Unis

Geological Inst., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology, Zürich, Suisse

SANDERS, J.W.

Dep. of Earth and Planetary Science, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Etats-Unis

DIETRICH, W.E.

Dep. of Earth and Planetary Science, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Etats-Unis

GLASER, S.D.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Etats-Unis

Description :
The AA. investigate the influence of rock mass strength on the retreat rate of alpine cliffs. To quantify rockwall competence they employed the Slope Mass Rating (SMR) geomechanical strength index. The study area included a portion of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. The AA. found good correlation between rockwall recession rate determined for 40 alpine cliffs and SMR which is best characterized by an exponential decrease in erosion rate with increasing rock mass strength. Analysis of the individual components of the SMR reveals that joint orientation (with respect to the cliff face) is the most important parameter affecting the rockwall erosion rate.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2009, vol. 34, n°. 10, p. 1339-1352, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2009

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais