Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)

The purpose of the study was to date the powerful snow avalanches occurred in the avalanche catchment area in the river Korgon basin (Northwestern Altai) by the dendrochronological method. The paper presents the results of the analysis of a number of dendrochronological indicators of avalanches: the...

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Main Authors: N. I. Bykov, N. V. Rygalova, A. A. Shigimaga
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Nauka 2024-07-01
Series:Лëд и снег
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Online Access:https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/1363
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author N. I. Bykov
N. V. Rygalova
A. A. Shigimaga
author_facet N. I. Bykov
N. V. Rygalova
A. A. Shigimaga
author_sort N. I. Bykov
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of the study was to date the powerful snow avalanches occurred in the avalanche catchment area in the river Korgon basin (Northwestern Altai) by the dendrochronological method. The paper presents the results of the analysis of a number of dendrochronological indicators of avalanches: the age of trees, the relation between widths of annual rings from opposite sides of the trunk, the presence of reactive (compressional) wood and traumatic resin canals, the dates of death and formation of wounds in trees, the presence of clearing effects (a sharp increase in growth) in three avalanche catchments, as well as a complex dendrochronological index of the avalanche activity. The dates of releases of the powerful avalanches were established down to 1570. It has been found that against the background of increasing amount of winter precipitation in these catchments, there are different trends in occurrence of the avalanches, which is determined by their morphological properties. In the avalanche areas with steeper slopes, due to repeated unloading of the avalanche centers in winter, the probability of releasing of powerful avalanches decreases. For the same reason, the powerful avalanches do not release during the years of maximum snow accumulation. The trends in the avalanche activity in the region under consideration had been obtained for the first time. The dendrochronological index of the avalanche activity, which is the ratio of the number of the tree growth failures to the number of the examined trees, is a good indicator of a release of a powerful avalanche even at a value of 0.85, provided that the number of examined trees in the lower part of the transit zone and in the zone of accumulation is 25–35 units. The results of this study may be used to predict the territorial differentiation of changes in the avalanche activity due to climate change. In connection with the recreational development of the Altai territory, they may also be of practical importance.
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spelling doaj-art-e0f092140b2f4795bf6c353dcb3427442025-08-20T03:59:48ZrusNaukaЛëд и снег2076-67342412-37652024-07-01641819510.31857/S2076673424010066861Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)N. I. Bykov0N. V. Rygalova1A. A. Shigimaga2Water and Environmental Problems Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of SciencesWater and Environmental Problems Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of SciencesWater and Environmental Problems Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of SciencesThe purpose of the study was to date the powerful snow avalanches occurred in the avalanche catchment area in the river Korgon basin (Northwestern Altai) by the dendrochronological method. The paper presents the results of the analysis of a number of dendrochronological indicators of avalanches: the age of trees, the relation between widths of annual rings from opposite sides of the trunk, the presence of reactive (compressional) wood and traumatic resin canals, the dates of death and formation of wounds in trees, the presence of clearing effects (a sharp increase in growth) in three avalanche catchments, as well as a complex dendrochronological index of the avalanche activity. The dates of releases of the powerful avalanches were established down to 1570. It has been found that against the background of increasing amount of winter precipitation in these catchments, there are different trends in occurrence of the avalanches, which is determined by their morphological properties. In the avalanche areas with steeper slopes, due to repeated unloading of the avalanche centers in winter, the probability of releasing of powerful avalanches decreases. For the same reason, the powerful avalanches do not release during the years of maximum snow accumulation. The trends in the avalanche activity in the region under consideration had been obtained for the first time. The dendrochronological index of the avalanche activity, which is the ratio of the number of the tree growth failures to the number of the examined trees, is a good indicator of a release of a powerful avalanche even at a value of 0.85, provided that the number of examined trees in the lower part of the transit zone and in the zone of accumulation is 25–35 units. The results of this study may be used to predict the territorial differentiation of changes in the avalanche activity due to climate change. In connection with the recreational development of the Altai territory, they may also be of practical importance.https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/1363northwestern altaikorgonsnow avalancheswoody plantstree ringsdendrochronological index of avalanche activity
spellingShingle N. I. Bykov
N. V. Rygalova
A. A. Shigimaga
Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)
Лëд и снег
northwestern altai
korgon
snow avalanches
woody plants
tree rings
dendrochronological index of avalanche activity
title Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)
title_full Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)
title_fullStr Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)
title_full_unstemmed Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)
title_short Dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the Northwestern Altai (Korgon River basin)
title_sort dendrochronological analysis of conifers in avalanche catchments of the northwestern altai korgon river basin
topic northwestern altai
korgon
snow avalanches
woody plants
tree rings
dendrochronological index of avalanche activity
url https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/1363
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AT nvrygalova dendrochronologicalanalysisofconifersinavalanchecatchmentsofthenorthwesternaltaikorgonriverbasin
AT aashigimaga dendrochronologicalanalysisofconifersinavalanchecatchmentsofthenorthwesternaltaikorgonriverbasin