Brief communication: An approximately 50 Mm3 ice-rock avalanche on 22 March 2021 in the Sedongpu valley, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

On 22 March 2021, a ~50 M m3 ice-rock avalanche occurred from 6500 m asl in the Sedongpu basin, southeastern Tibet. The avalanche transformed into a highly mobile flow which temporarily blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo river. The avalanche flow lasted ~5 minutes and produced substantial geomorphological...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Cryosphere
Main Authors: Zhao, Chuanxi, Yang, Wei, Westoby, Matt, An, Baosheng, Wu, Guangjian, Wang, Weicai, Wang, Zhongyan, Wang, Yongjie, Dunning, Stuart
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022
Subjects:
F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences
The Cryosphere
Online Access:https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/48848/
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1333-2022
https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/48848/15/tc-16-1333-2022.pdf
https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/48848/1/tc-2021-306-typeset_manuscript-version6%20%28002%29.pdf
https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/48848/2/tc-2021-306.pdf
Description
Summary:On 22 March 2021, a ~50 M m3 ice-rock avalanche occurred from 6500 m asl in the Sedongpu basin, southeastern Tibet. The avalanche transformed into a highly mobile flow which temporarily blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo river. The avalanche flow lasted ~5 minutes and produced substantial geomorphological reworking. This event, and previous ones from the basin, occurred concurrently with, or shortly after recorded positive air temperature anomalies. The occurrence of future large mass flows from the basin cannot be ruled out, and their impacts must be carefully considered given implications for sustainable hydropower and associated socioeconomic development in the region.

Similar Items