The EuroDendro project -Snow-avalanche frequency and magnitude in European Middle Mountain unravelled by dendrogeomorphological analyses

• Main Authors: Decaulne, Armelle, Eggertsson, Ó., Sæmundsson, Þ., LAUTE, K., Beylich, A.A., POP, Olympiu, Defive, Emmanuelle, Larrue, Sébastien
• Other Authors: Littoral, Environnement, Télédétection, Géomatique (LETG - Nantes), Institut de Géographie et d'Aménagement Régional de l'Université de Nantes (IGARUN), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale (GEOLAB), Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand 2 (UBP)-Université Clermont Auvergne 2017-2020 (UCA 2017-2020 )-Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)-Institut Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (IR SHS UNILIM), Université de Limoges (UNILIM)-Université de Limoges (UNILIM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2010
• Subjects: dendrogeomorphology; snow-avalanches; dendrogéomorphologie; avalanches; [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes; [SDU.STU.GM]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geomorphology; [SDV.EE.BIO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; environment/Bioclimatology; [SHS.ENVIR]Humanities and Social Sciences/Environmental studies; Dalsmynni; Fnjóskadalur; Ljósavatn; Middle Mountain; Norway; Tilting; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01131041; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01131041/document; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01131041/file/decaulne.pdf; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01131041/file/2010%20Decaulne%20et%20al%20EGU2010-4231-1.pdf

International audience The EuroDendro project aims to detect the signal of recent snow-avalanche activity within the analyses of tree rings. In mountain areas, even middle mountains, snow avalanches are a common process & pose serious hazards & risks in recently occupied sectors, either for residence or recreation purposes. Where (i) geomorphological evidence of snow-avalanche occurrence are scarce, (ii) historical records are poor & (iii) trees are colonizing part of the slopes, tree-ring analyses appear as a good alternative to reveal the recent snow-avalanche history. The dendromorphological approach consists in a survey of the investigated areas to inventory damages that affect the morphology of the tree: tilting of the trunk, presence of scars on the trunk, topped trees. Such a survey enables mapping the most frequent snow-avalanche paths, helping to: locate the maximum potential damages estimate the runout distances appreciate the lateral dispersion of the events The EuroDendro project is very interested in: (i) broad-leaved trees, which attracted seldom attention in dendrogeomorphology related to snow-avalanche activity: birch (Betula pubescens) in N Iceland birch (Betula pubescens) & alder (Alnus) in W Norway beech (Fagus sylvatica) in NE Cantal-France (ii) coniferous trees in little explored areas where broad-leaved trees are unavailable: spruce (Picea abies) in Central Romania Core extractions in c & d directions, i.e. parallel to the main flux lines, on both the uphill & the downhill sides of the tree Core analyses on a Lintab measurement table, enabling tree-rings counting, location & dating of growth disturbances (narrow & large rings) & reaction wood formation. The EuroDendro project investigates four main areas, some of them in connection with other scientific frameworks. The investigated areas are located in: xx (A) Northern Iceland, in the Dalsmynni valley, the Ljósavatn-skarð pass & the southern Fnjóskadalur valley, (B) Western Norway, at the bottom of ...