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Modelling frost creep rates in an alpine environment
Author(s) -
Matsuoka Norikazu
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
permafrost and periglacial processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-1530
pISSN - 1045-6740
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1530(199810/12)9:4<397::aid-ppp302>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - creep , permafrost , geology , frost (temperature) , geotechnical engineering , frost weathering , frost heaving , geomorphology , soil science , composite material , materials science , oceanography , soil water
Field monitoring of soil movement and associated variables was undertaken on high mountain slopes in the Japanese Alps. Painted lines indicated high velocities of surface particles (10 0 –10 1 cm a −1 ), mainly resulting from diurnal frost heave activity, and displayed large spatial variations in velocity, reflecting the sediment characteristics. Two mathematical models of frost creep rate are proposed. The first model demonstrates that the surface velocity is proportional to the number of frost heave cycles, the thickness of fine debris layer within the top 15 cm of sediment and the second power of the slope gradient. The second model includes a further variable, the silt and clay content of the fine layer. The field data indicate that both models provide reasonable results, the second model showing slightly higher predictability. These models are applicable to mountain slopes dominated by diurnal frost heaving, although modification is necessary where soil moisture regimes are significantly different from those in the Japanese Alps. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.