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The Use of Airborne Laser Swath Mapping on Fans and Cones: An Example from the Colorado Front Range

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Dating Torrential Processes on Fans and Cones

Part of the book series: Advances in Global Change Research ((AGLO,volume 47))

Abstract

Debris fan systems are common features of mountainous environments, particularly in formerly glaciated valleys in the Arctic, Antarctic, and high mountains of the lower latitudes (Rapp 1960a, b; Albjar et al. 1979; Church et al. 1979; White 1981; Caine 1983; Perez 1993). The prevalence of these landforms in these physiographic settings is attributed to rapid weathering associated with the presence of oversteepened valley sides, stress unloading of rock walls following deglaciation, and the severity of the climate (Matsuoka and Sakai 1999; Ballantyne 2002; Curry and Morris 2004). These factors are conducive to the development of fan deposits by rockfall, debris-flow and avalanche activity, each of which represent a significant hazards to fan areas.

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Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 05–02343 (Doctoral Dissertation Research: Process – form linkages in alpine talus deposits, Front Range, Colorado, USA) and Grant No. 02–39749 (CAREER: Alluvial fan form quantification to advance geographic science and education). Any opinions, finding, or conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors gratefully acknowledge Jeff Coe and Jason Kean for reviews that have dramatically improved this manuscript. We also would like to acknowledge Chris Smith for assistance in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landslide Hazards Program, United States Geological Survey, Golden, CO, USA

    Dennis M. Staley

  2. Department of Geography, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Thad A. Wasklewicz

Authors
  1. Dennis M. Staley
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  2. Thad A. Wasklewicz
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Correspondence to Dennis M. Staley .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Berne, Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, Berne, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Michelle Schneuwly-Bollschweiler

  2. University of Berne, Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, Berne, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Markus Stoffel

  3. Forestry Environment &Water Management, IV/5 – Torrent & Avalanche Control, Federal Ministry for Agriculture,, Marxergasse 5, Vienna, 1030, Wien, Austria

    Florian Rudolf-Miklau

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Staley, D.M., Wasklewicz, T.A. (2013). The Use of Airborne Laser Swath Mapping on Fans and Cones: An Example from the Colorado Front Range. In: Schneuwly-Bollschweiler, M., Stoffel, M., Rudolf-Miklau, F. (eds) Dating Torrential Processes on Fans and Cones. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 47. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4336-6_9

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