Rockfall hazard in the Daisekkei Valley, the northern Japanese Alps, on 11 August 2005

This paper describes a rockfall event in the Daisekkei Valley of Mount Shirouma-dake (2,932 m), the northern Japanese Alps. The rockfall occurred on a steep cliff comprising well-jointed felsites and produced debris of ≥8,000 m^sup 3^. Most debris was deposited on an elongated snowpatch located imme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Landslides 2007-03, Vol.4 (1), p.91-94
Main Authors: Kariya, Yoshihiko, Sato, Go, Mokudai, Kuniyasu, Komori, Jiro, Ishii, Masaki, Nishii, Ryoko, Miyazawa, Yosuke, Tsumura, Noriko
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Avalanches
Cliffs
Environmental hazards
Landslides & mudslides
Rocks
Trekking
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Summary:This paper describes a rockfall event in the Daisekkei Valley of Mount Shirouma-dake (2,932 m), the northern Japanese Alps. The rockfall occurred on a steep cliff comprising well-jointed felsites and produced debris of ≥8,000 m^sup 3^. Most debris was deposited on an elongated snowpatch located immediately beneath the cliff, and it caused casualties among people who were trekking along a trail on the snowpatch. Additionally, a large rock block slipped 1 km on the snowpatch. The rockfall could have been due to the differential retreat of the rockwall, which contains areas of high- and low-density joints. Seasonal and diurnal freeze-thaw activities and snow avalanches and wash appear to be important factors responsible for the retreat. Although some rock blocks that can collapse further remain on the rockwall, the position of the mountain trail in the Daisekkei Valley is fixed. Fundamental reform of tourism systems for climbers, including education on natural hazards, is required.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1612-510X
1612-5118
DOI:10.1007/s10346-006-0067-7