Detailed alluvial fan geomorphology in a high-arctic periglacial environment, Svalbard: application of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys

• Main Authors: Tomczyk, Aleksandra M., Ewertowski, Marek W., Stawska, Monika, Rachlewicz, Grzegorz
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2019
• Subjects: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Chemical sciences; Ecology; FOS Biological sciences; Immunology; FOS Clinical medicine; 80699 Information Systems not elsewhere classified; FOS Computer and information sciences; Inorganic Chemistry; 111714 Mental Health; FOS Health sciences; Arctic; Svalbard
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.8163401.v2; https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Detailed_alluvial_fan_geomorphology_in_a_high-arctic_periglacial_environment_Svalbard_application_of_unmanned_aerial_vehicle_UAV_surveys/8163401/2

A 1:850 detailed map of the geomorphology of the Dynamisk Creek alluvial fan on Svalbard was produced based on very high-resolution data collected using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in 2014. The map documents features within the surface of the fan (0.35 km 2 ), emphasizing their relative temporal activity. Fluvial flows were the most important geomorphological processes responsible for aggradation and modification of the fan surface. However, at present most of the fan area is inactive (about 75% of the whole fan surface) and stabilized by vegetation and mosses. Furthermore, in some places, niveo-aeolian (6% of the fan surface) and snow avalanches (1.5% of the fan surface) deposits have been noticed. In addition to the map, detailed morphometric characteristics of the fan and its catchment are also provided. The presented work illustrates the enormous usefulness of small UAVs for the study of fan surfaces in periglacial environments.