Lithologic, structural and topographic influences on snow avalanche path location, eastern Glacier National Park, Montana

D R Butler; Stephen J Walsh

doi:10.1111/j.1467-8306.1990.tb00302.x

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Lithologic, structural and topographic influences on snow avalanche path location, eastern Glacier National Park, Montana

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Lithologic, structural and topographic influences on snow avalanche path location, eastern Glacier National Park, Montana

D R Butler and Stephen J Walsh

Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol.80(3), pp.362-378

1990

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8306.1990.tb00302.x

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Abstract

Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience

Human Geography

structural geomorphology

snow-avalanche paths

remote sensing

Geographic Information Systems

Glacier National Park

Montana

Rocky Mountains

We examine the roles of lithology, structure, and topography as determinants of the location and morphology of snow-avalanche paths in east-central Glacier National Park, Montana. Most models of avalanche path location emphasize topographic interactions with prevailing winds and ignore the role of geologic influences. Landsat Thematic Mapper digital data, covering the study area, were enhanced through a combination of directional and non-directional spatial filters, principal components analysis, and channel ratioing to delineate the relationships between lithology, structure, topography, and avalanche-path location. We used GIS technology to examine these spatial relationships. Fieldwork confirmed the remote sensing and GIS interpretations. More than 50 percent of the snow-avalanche paths are located directly beneath a widespread diorite sill, and roughly 25 percent and 20 percent of the additional paths were associated with topographic couloirs (probably structurally controlled) and structural lineaments respectively. Structural patterns also influenced slope aspect of the paths. Morphometric differences between these paths and those from a larger, previous study group are attributed to local climatic differences on opposite sides of the Continental Divide.

Details

Title: Lithologic, structural and topographic influences on snow avalanche path location, eastern Glacier National Park, Montana
Authors: D R Butler (Author) - University of Georgia, United States
Stephen J Walsh (Author) - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
Publication details: Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol.80(3), pp.362-378
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 1990
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8306.1990.tb00302.x
ISSN: 0004-5608
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449143902621
Output Type: Journal article

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