A low‐angle slushflow in the Kirgiz Range, Kirgizstan

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Authors: Elder, K., Kattelmann, R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1993
• Subjects: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430040403; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.3430040403; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.3430040403

Abstract A rare observation of a slushflow that released on a low‐angle slope was made on 16 May 1992 in the West Karakol Valley, southern Kirgiz Range, Kirgizstan. The slushflow released on a short slope of 6° and travelled a distance of 140 m over a slope with a mean angle of 3° with a mean channel width of about 4 m. Total volume of snow and slush transported by the slide was more than 200 m 3 with an estimated mass of 200,000 kg. Estimated velocity of the flow was 5 ms −1 . Meteorological conditions preceding the event included heavy cloud cover and clear skies with warm temperatures. Rain fell for about six hours during the day before the event. Mixed rain and snow precipitation continued through the preceding night accompanied by steady high winds. The day of the release was warm with overcast skies and light rain. The snowpack was generally saturated to the surface at the time of the release, and water was flowing over the snow surface in the path of the slushflow.