A century-long snow avalanche chronology reconstructed from tree-rings in Parâng Mountains (Southern Carpathians, Romania)

Pop, Olimpiu; Gavrilă, Ionela-Georgiana; Roşian, Gheorghe; Meseşan, Flaviu; Decaulne, Armelle; Holobâcă, Iulian; Anghel, Titu

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.058

Cited by 35 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Overall morphology is represented by narrow ridges, glacial cirques and valleys etc., being the result of Pleistocene and Holocene glacial and periglacial activity. The pre-existing glacial and periglacial landforms are reshaped in the present-day by SA and DF geomorphic activity [7] and [1]. Above 1800 m a.s.l., the average annual temperature is below 2ᴼC and the precipitation amount is 1200 mm/year, leading to the development of alpine shrubs and alpine meadow.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the present-day period, an increase of snow avalanche (SA) and debris-flow (DF) activity was reported in various massifs belonging to Carpathian range, causing material damages and fatalities in inhabited areas [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. So far, in Parâng Mts., only SA activity was investigated and reported in few case studies by [1] and [6], even if both geomorphic processes are widespread on the alpine and subalpine steep slopes of the massif being natural hazards threating the touristic areas and related infrastructure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, in Parâng Mts., only SA activity was investigated and reported in few case studies by [1] and [6], even if both geomorphic processes are widespread on the alpine and subalpine steep slopes of the massif being natural hazards threating the touristic areas and related infrastructure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution and controlling factors of snow avalanche and debris flow in Parâng Mountains

Gavrilă¹,

Pop²,

Horváth³

et al. 2017

Proceedings of the 33rd Romanian Geomorphology Symposium

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Abstract-The alpine slopes of Parâng Mts. are prone to snow avalanche (SA) and debris flow (DF) activity due to favorable lithological, topo-climatic and vegetation cover conditions. Since tourism activities are continuously increasing, tourists and related infrastructure in this area might be exposed to different levels of risk. Our study is a preliminary research that aims to analyze the spatial distribution and controlling factors of SA and DF processes in Parâng Mts., which represent natural hazards threating the areas destined for tourism activities and associated infrastructure. First, the spatial distribution pattern of SA paths and DF tracks was identified and mapped on orthophotoplans, then checked in the field and integrated in a database for analysis. Subsequently, a set of instability factors influencing directly the spatial distribution of SA and DF activity were analyzed. The following instability factors were taken into consideration and statistically analyzed using ArcGIS software: slope, altitude, aspect, planar and profile curvature (automatically extracted from 10 m resolution DEM), vegetation cover (mapped on orthophotoplans) and lithology (extracted from the geological maps at 1:200.000 scale). Information regarding the spatial distribution of tourist frequented areas and the related infrastructure (hiking trails, chalets, ski lifts, ski pistes etc.) were analyzed in conjunction with the spatial distribution of geomorphic process activity. In areas with tourism activities, future research will focus on mapping terrain susceptibility to SA and DF processes. Moreover, dendrogeomorphic reconstructions will allow to determine the occurrence probability of SA and DF activity, which will serve to finally get an accurate geomorphic hazard zonation within the study area.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution and controlling factors of snow avalanche and debris flow in Parâng Mountains

Gavrilă¹,

Pop²,

Horváth³

et al. 2017

Proceedings of the 33rd Romanian Geomorphology Symposium

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“…Reference chronology obtained previously from undisturbed trees growing at several tens of km distance in Parang Mts. [4] served for cross-dating with growth chronologies of disturbed trees, to identify and correct the missing/false rings. Samples from damaged trees have been analyzed, in order to detect growth anomalies related to mechanical stress caused by snow avalanches.…”

Section: A Field Sampling and Laboratory Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree-ring based reconstruction of snow avalanche frequency in şureanu Mountains (Southern Carpathians, Romania)

Pop¹,

Meseşan²,

Gavrilă³

et al. 2017

Proceedings of the 33rd Romanian Geomorphology Symposium

Self Cite

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Abstract-Snow avalanches represent a widespread phenomenon in the Carpathians, damaging forests, properties, infrastructures and causing fatalities. In remote mountain areas, historical records of snow avalanche activity are commonly lacking. Trees repeatedly disturbed by snow avalanches record evidence of past events in their annual rings. The main purpose of the present study was to analyze tree-ring records in order to reconstruct frequency and spatial extent of past avalanche activity along a path located on the southern slope of Şureanu Peak (2059 m a.s.l.). Samples collected from 54 Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), heavily disturbed by snow avalanches, have been analyzed and their tree-growth anomalies identified (e.g. scars, callus tissues, the onset sequences of tangential rows of traumatic resin ducts, compression wood, growth suppression and release sequences). The growth anomalies found within the tree rings served to date past avalanche events, back to late 19th century. Finally, the minimum frequency of snow avalanches has been determined. In the studied area, dendrogeomorphic methods provide the most consistent avalanche event chronology and can further contribute to an accurate avalanche hazard zonation.

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“…Based on these, the year(s) when the impact occurred can be identified using geomorphic methods. Such reconstructions of snow avalanche activity were successfully performed in the western part of Parâng Mountains [1], in Făgăraș Mountains [2], in Alps Mountains [3] and other mountain areas worlwide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dendrogeomorphogical assessment of snow avalanche activity in Parâng Mountains

Meseşan¹,

Pop²,

Gavrilă³

et al. 2017

Proceedings of the 33rd Romanian Geomorphology Symposium

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Abstract-In the alpine area of the Romanian Carpathians in general and Parâng Mountains in particular, snow avalanches play an important role in the landscape and ecosystems dynamics. When the snow masses reach the treeline, they are stopped by forests and cause severe disturbances or even death to the trees. If snow avalanches affect repeatedly the same forest area, an avalanche path takes shape. Inside it, the snow avalanche activity is clearly witnessed by forest vegetation. The trees record in their rings signs of past avalanche activity. In particular forest areas, these are the only avalanche event records that can be investigated in order to improve the knowledge regarding past avalanches. Dendrogeomorphology proved to be the most reliable tool for this scope, allowing yearly reconstructions of avalanche frequency and spatial extension. The present study aims to accomplish tree ring reconstruction of snow avalanche in two avalanche paths located on the southern slope of Parâng Mountains, in the proximity of Păpușa Peak (2135 m a.s.l.), one facing southwest and the other facing southeast. The first mentioned avalanche path is crossed by Transalpina road. Rânca ski resort is placed on a convex slope between these avalanche paths. In the southwestern path, 58 Norway spruces (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) showing severe disturbances caused by snow avalanches were sampled. In the southeastern path, other 52 spruces were sampled. Based on the sampled trees growth disturbances (e.g. scars, tangential rows of traumatic resin ducts, compression wood, growth suppression), the avalanche event chronology was developed for each avalanche path. Then, using a new GIS-based approach, the snow avalanche frequency and return periods were calculated and mapped. The results of this study can contribute to avalanche hazard mapping in the study area and should prevent freeride skiers regarding the snow avalanche risk on southern slopes of Păpușa Peak.

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A century-long snow avalanche chronology reconstructed from tree-rings in Parâng Mountains (Southern Carpathians, Romania)

Cited by 35 publications

References 44 publications

Spatial distribution and controlling factors of snow avalanche and debris flow in Parâng Mountains

Spatial distribution and controlling factors of snow avalanche and debris flow in Parâng Mountains

Tree-ring based reconstruction of snow avalanche frequency in şureanu Mountains (Southern Carpathians, Romania)

Dendrogeomorphogical assessment of snow avalanche activity in Parâng Mountains

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