Use of the schmidt test hammer to detect enhanced boulder weathering under late‐lying snowpatches

Abstract Ballantyne et al. (1989) presented data that show a significant reduction in Schmidt hammer rebound values for boulders buried by late‐lying snow. McCarroll (1990) questions these findings on the grounds of sampling design, methodology and unexpectedly rapid weathering of boulders at one re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
Main Authors: Ballantyne, Colin K., Black, Nicola M., Finlay, Donna P.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1990
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290150510
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fesp.3290150510
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/esp.3290150510
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Summary:Abstract Ballantyne et al. (1989) presented data that show a significant reduction in Schmidt hammer rebound values for boulders buried by late‐lying snow. McCarroll (1990) questions these findings on the grounds of sampling design, methodology and unexpectedly rapid weathering of boulders at one recently‐deglaciated site. However, analysis of the data using the procedure recommended by McCarroll yields identical results, and his methodological objections appear groundless. The absence of evidence for reduction of rebound values at snowpatch sites investigated by McCarroll may reflect lack of meltwater runoff beneath snowbeds in permafrost areas. The implied rapidity of weathering on recently‐deglaciated ground requires further investigation.