Pervasive distribution of extension-dominated landforms: implications for the kinematics of glacier-free rock avalanches in the Tibetan Plateau highlands.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Pervasive distribution of extension-dominated landforms: implications for the kinematics of glacier-free rock avalanches in the Tibetan Plateau highlands.
Authors: Wang, Yu-Feng1,2 (AUTHOR) wangyufeng@swjtu.edu.cn, Hu, Cheng-Wei1 (AUTHOR), He, Ke1 (AUTHOR), Ming, Jie1 (AUTHOR), Li, Tian-Hua1 (AUTHOR), Lin, Qi-Wen1 (AUTHOR), Li, Chuan-Bao3 (AUTHOR), Cheng, Qian-Gong1,2 (AUTHOR) chengqiangong@swjtu.edu.cn
Source: Environmental Earth Sciences. Mar2026, Vol. 85 Issue 5, p1-18. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Landforms, *Rockslides, *Glacial landforms, *Holocene Epoch, *Glacial drift
Geographic Terms: Tibet (China)
Abstract: Pervasive distribution of extension-dominated landforms of rock avalanches in glacial regions has been widely reported, whereas those developed in non-glacial areas are scarce with their dynamics remain debated, particularly regarding the genetic mechanism of longitudinal ridges. To explore the emplacement mechanism of such avalanches, this study investigates a large Holocene rock avalanche characterized by the sequential distribution of extensive extension-dominated landforms. Its transition zone is marked by a suite of counter-slope platforms with steep scarps, as well as lateral ridges featuring stepped echelon-like linear structures. The accumulation zone contains a series of longitudinal ridges, with thicknesses (T) ranging mainly from 15 to 35 m and spacing (S) from 20 to 50 m - significantly larger than those reported in supraglacial cases. Meanwhile, a decreasing trend in the averaged S/T ratio versus averagedT is reached for longitudinal ridges, spanning from laboratory granular flows to natural RAs. The avalanche substrate consists of gravel-dominated fluvio-glacial deposits with a relatively steep slope and a sharp planar contact with the main avalanche body is identified. Based on a comprehensive analysis of these extensional landforms and the avalanche-substrate contact characteristics, we propose that the avalanche underwent an extension-dominated propagation process with the mass exhibiting a rapid extension-faulting in the transition zone and an active stretching in the main part of the accumulation zone. The combined action of self-excited vibration and frozen layer lubrication enhanced the high mobility of the rock avalanche and facilitated the formation of the longitudinal ridges. The frontal area of the accumulation zone was dominated by a passive deceleration process with minor extension, which was controlled by a frozen layer lubrication with the self-excited vibration absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 192480446
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Pervasive distribution of extension-dominated landforms: implications for the kinematics of glacier-free rock avalanches in the Tibetan Plateau highlands.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Yu-Feng%22">Wang, Yu-Feng</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> wangyufeng@swjtu.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hu%2C+Cheng-Wei%22">Hu, Cheng-Wei</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22He%2C+Ke%22">He, Ke</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ming%2C+Jie%22">Ming, Jie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Tian-Hua%22">Li, Tian-Hua</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Qi-Wen%22">Lin, Qi-Wen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Chuan-Bao%22">Li, Chuan-Bao</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cheng%2C+Qian-Gong%22">Cheng, Qian-Gong</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> chengqiangong@swjtu.edu.cn</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Environmental+Earth+Sciences%22">Environmental Earth Sciences</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 85 Issue 5, p1-18. 18p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Landforms%22">Landforms</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rockslides%22">Rockslides</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Glacial+landforms%22">Glacial landforms</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Holocene+Epoch%22">Holocene Epoch</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Glacial+drift%22">Glacial drift</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tibet+%28China%29%22">Tibet (China)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Pervasive distribution of extension-dominated landforms of rock avalanches in glacial regions has been widely reported, whereas those developed in non-glacial areas are scarce with their dynamics remain debated, particularly regarding the genetic mechanism of longitudinal ridges. To explore the emplacement mechanism of such avalanches, this study investigates a large Holocene rock avalanche characterized by the sequential distribution of extensive extension-dominated landforms. Its transition zone is marked by a suite of counter-slope platforms with steep scarps, as well as lateral ridges featuring stepped echelon-like linear structures. The accumulation zone contains a series of longitudinal ridges, with thicknesses (T) ranging mainly from 15 to 35 m and spacing (S) from 20 to 50 m - significantly larger than those reported in supraglacial cases. Meanwhile, a decreasing trend in the averaged S/T ratio versus averagedT is reached for longitudinal ridges, spanning from laboratory granular flows to natural RAs. The avalanche substrate consists of gravel-dominated fluvio-glacial deposits with a relatively steep slope and a sharp planar contact with the main avalanche body is identified. Based on a comprehensive analysis of these extensional landforms and the avalanche-substrate contact characteristics, we propose that the avalanche underwent an extension-dominated propagation process with the mass exhibiting a rapid extension-faulting in the transition zone and an active stretching in the main part of the accumulation zone. The combined action of self-excited vibration and frozen layer lubrication enhanced the high mobility of the rock avalanche and facilitated the formation of the longitudinal ridges. The frontal area of the accumulation zone was dominated by a passive deceleration process with minor extension, which was controlled by a frozen layer lubrication with the self-excited vibration absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=192480446
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s12665-026-12869-6
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Landforms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rockslides
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Glacial landforms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Holocene Epoch
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Glacial drift
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tibet (China)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Pervasive distribution of extension-dominated landforms: implications for the kinematics of glacier-free rock avalanches in the Tibetan Plateau highlands.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wang, Yu-Feng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hu, Cheng-Wei
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: He, Ke
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ming, Jie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Li, Tian-Hua
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lin, Qi-Wen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Li, Chuan-Bao
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cheng, Qian-Gong
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 18666280
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 85
            – Type: issue
              Value: 5
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Environmental Earth Sciences
              Type: main
ResultId 1