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The influence of rock mass strength on glacial valley cross‐profile morphometry: A case study from the Southern Alps, New Zealand
Author(s) -
Augustinus Paul C.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290170104
Subject(s) - bedrock , geology , glacial period , erosion , geomorphology , tectonics , glacier , rock mass classification , fault (geology) , trough (economics) , physical geography , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , geography , economics , macroeconomics
The erosional morphology in the vicinity of the Main Divide of the Southern Alps, and Fiordland, New Zealand, appears to be a product of the interaction between Alpine Fault‐induced tectonic processes, rock mass strength of the uplifted and eroded bedrock, and the processes acting to denude the developing mountain landscape. The magnitude of the effects of glacial erosion on the landscape is directly controlled by the size and physical properties of the glaciers, whilst the form of the trough is a direct consequence of the rock mass strength (RMS) properties of the slope rock. Realistic models of development of the cross‐profile shape of glacial valleys must take into consideration the RMS properties of the eroded substrate.