Brief communication: An approximately 50 Mm<sup>3</sup> ice-rock avalanche on 22 March 2021 in the Sedongpu valley, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Chuanxi Zhao, Wei Yang*, Matthew Westoby, Baosheng An, Guangjian Wu, W Wang, Z Wang, Y Wang, Stuart Dunning

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<jats:p>Abstract. On 22 March 2021, an approximately 50 Mm3 ice-rock avalanche occurred from 6500 m a.s.l. in the Sedongpu basin, southeastern Tibet. The avalanche transformed into a highly mobile mass flow which temporarily blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo river. The avalanche flow lasted ∼ 5 min and produced substantial geomorphological reworking. This event, and previous ones from the basin, occurred concurrently with, or shortly after, positive seasonal 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. </jats:p>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1333-1340
Number of pages0
JournalThe Cryosphere
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 12 Apr 2022

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