1. The polygenetic origin and surface development of the Laspi slope deformation in the Crimean Mountains
- Author
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Šilhán, Karel, Pánek, Tomáš, Hradecký, Jan, and Tichavský, Radek
- Abstract
Summary Slope deformations of different types and ages are very common landforms on the southern coastal slope of the Crimean Mountains in Ukraine. The nature and activity of slope processes is changing over time, and different processes may even occur at the same place. Therefore, many slope deformations have polygenetic characteristics. Identifying and dating the individual processes that create the resulting slope deformation are crucial for understanding the landscape development and for assessing the potential hazards to inhabited areas. In this study, we report a detailed multidisciplinary analysis of the coastal complex slope deformation situated in the Laspi resort at the SW tip of the Crimean Mts. A nearly 200-m-long outcrop in the frontal part of the deformation was studied in detail. The base of the outcrop (overhanging the beach) contains remnants of rock avalanche deposits in the form of large limestone blocks. On top of this layer, the body of the studied deformation was created by several generations of debris flows and landslides. Radiocarbon dating the charcoal layers just below the debris flow material reveals a maximal age of 2840 ± 40 cal BP. Significant changes in the characteristics of dominant processes were likely included by wildfires (evidenced by buried ash layers). The surface development of the slope deformations (dominated by a dense gully network) was studied using a dendrogeomorphic analysis of exposed tree roots. Exposure data from 21 samples enabled us to estimate the average incision of gullies to the studied slope deformation surface (approx. 1 cm year–1). The total erosional development time is estimated to be 1300 years.
- Published
- 2016
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