Avalanche Activity on the Vaughan Lewis Icefall, Alaska

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Pinchak, Alfred C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1968
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020645; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020645

Abstract Avalanche data were obtained by direct observation of the Vaughan Lewis Icefall. Magnitude, time and location of each ice fall were recorded and the resulting data were analyzed statistically. An inverse relationship was found between the relative frequency and the magnitude of the avalanches. A significant diurnal variation in avalanche rate was also detected. During the early morning hours the avalanche rate reached a maximum. No secondary increase in the avalanche frequency was observed during the evening cooling period. The data indicated that a given ice fall results in an increased probability of an ice fall occurring shortly thereafter. After approximately 4 min the effect of a given avalanche no longer correlates with succeeding avalanches.