HR: 16:15h
AN: G12A-02 INVITED     [PDF]
TI: ALSM and GIS Analysis of Debris Flow Fan Variability, Death Valley, CA
AU: * Wasklewicz, T
EM: twsklwcz@memphis.edu
AF: University of Memphis Department of Earth Sciences - Geography, Johnson Hall 113, Memphis, TN 38152 United States
AU: Volker, H
EM: hvolker@memphis.edu
AF: University of Memphis Department of Earth Sciences - Geography, Johnson Hall 113, Memphis, TN 38152 United States
AB: Analysis of form in geomorphology has gone through numerous transitions that began with the qualitative assessments of form through field observations as well as an attempt to unravel the historical development of landscapes. The dissatisfaction with the historical approach led to an emphasis on quantitative measures and analyses of planimetric (2D) boundary conditions of surficial features. The advent of Airborne Laser Swath Mapping (ALSM) and other remotely sensed techniques provided access to high-resolution data and permitted geomorphologic research to move beyond 2D measures to more closely approximate the form in 2.5D space. The current study presents preliminary results from a GIS analysis of ALSM data of alluvial fan form in Death Valley, CA. Functional surficial units, identified from field observations and DEM data, from debris flow fans were extracted from the ALSM point cloud. The functional units consisted of channels, levees, snouts, and interfluves between levees of two separate debris flow channels. The morphometric characteristics of these features were compared using spatial statistical analyses. The spatial interpretation provides a 2.5D assessment of within- and between-fan variability. It explains similarities and differences between the geomorphometric signatures of debris flow fans in a hyper-arid setting. The findings have implications for process-response models and planning/management of these often inhabited features.
DE: 1294 Instruments and techniques
DE: 1625 Geomorphology and weathering (1824, 1886)
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 1824 Geomorphology (1625)
SC: Geodesy [G]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting