Аннотация:Lovozerskiye Tundry is a plateau-like mountainous massif located in the central
part of Kola Peninsula 10 km eastward from the Khibiny Mountains. Slushflows
— one of the main processes of valley development there — are a specific
subtype of debris flow. Geomorphic interpretation of high-resolution satellite
imagery from public services and topographic maps displayed widespread distribution
of geomorphic evidences of debris flow phenomena within the massif.
Detailed field survey conducted in 2017 generally confirmed these results. Particular
landforms and deposits specific for active slushflow origination, transit
and deposition zones were observed in 23 out of 30 investigated valleys longer
than 3 km. Apparently, at the Lovozerskiye Tundry most of slushflows initiates
in narrow deep channels at the larger basins upper reaches by rapid snowmelt,
possibly added by rainfall. In addition, gravitational slushflows usually localize
in steep avalanche tracks starting as wet snow slab failures similar to wet snow
avalanches. Typical granular debris flows — with low content of fine material —
are possible, at least, in four basins due to periodical extreme water discharges
triggered by avalanches and/or rockfalls into moraine-dammed lakes in their
headwaters. It was also established that granular debris flows in the lower valley
reaches could start as slushflows in their upper parts. Thus, during the
2017 field campaign initial stages and consequences of such a complex event
were observed on July 3 in the Sengisjok valley. The following field survey has
established the limits of all morphodynamic zones and maximum splash levels
of the event.
