Can we use dendrogeomorphology for the spatial and temporal analysis of less intensive mass movement processes? : Case study of three debris flows in NW and W Slovenia

Konjar, Matevž (author), Levanič, Tom (author), Nagel, Thomas Andrew (author), Kobal, Milan (author)

Debris flows can transport large amounts of material and therefore present a significant threat to infrastructure and human life. In this research, we used tree-ring width analyses to quantify the response of trees to three debris flow events in NW Slovenia (Javoršček, Srpenica) and W Slovenia (Nikova) for which we know the time of origin. We attempted to date these and similar tree responses in the past and compared the patterns between different tree species. Altogether, we sampled 147 trees across a range of tree species (Fagus sylvatica, Pinus sylvestris, Fraxinus excelsior, Fraxinus ornus, Acer pseudoplatanus, Picea abies, Juglans regia, Acer campestre, Tilia cordata and Ostrya carpinifolia), including reference trees that were outside the debris flow fan. For 91 trees, we constructed tree-ring chronologies and used pointer-year analysis to identify years that had abnormal growth. For the remaining trees (mostly Ostrya carpinifolia, Tilia cordata and Acer pseudoplatanus), we either could not accurately distinguish tree rings or two samples from a single tree showed significantly different growth patterns. The growth patterns of Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies following debris flow events showed a weak response at the Javoršček site and no clear responses at the other two sites. Tree species responded similarly at the same locations. Due to the lack of a clear response pattern, we were not able to reconstruct past debris flows.

• Language: English
• Keywords: debris flows, tree rings, dendrogeomorphology, slope processes
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 55-62
• Numbering: [Št.] 124
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-125644
• UDC: 630*56:630*81+630*42(045)=111
• ISSN on article: 2335-3112
• DOI: 10.20315/ASetL.124.5
• COBISS.SI-ID: 57578243
• Publication date in RUL: 30.03.2021

KONJAR, Matevž, LEVANIČ, Tom, NAGEL, Thomas Andrew and KOBAL, Milan, 2021, Can we use dendrogeomorphology for the spatial and temporal analysis of less intensive mass movement processes? : Case study of three debris flows in NW and W Slovenia. Acta Silvae et Ligni [online]. 2021. Vol. 124, p. 55–62. [Accessed 17 May 2025]. DOI 10.20315/ASetL.124.5. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=125644

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta Silvae et Ligni
• Publisher: Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije, založba Silva Slovenica, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za gozdarstvo in obnovljive gozdne vire, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za lesarstvo
• ISSN: 2335-3112
• COBISS.SI-ID: 266761216

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.
• Licensing start date: 30.03.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Ali lahko z uporabo dendrogeomorfologije analiziramo delovanje manj intenzivnih pobočnih masnih premikov v času in prostoru? : študija primera treh drobirskih tokov v SZ in Z Sloveniji

Abstract

Drobirski tokovi s sposobnostjo prenašanja večjih količin materiala so nevarni za infrastrukturo in življenje ljudi. Z analizo širine lesnih branik smo v raziskavi poskušali prepoznati odziv dreves na vpliv treh drobirskih tokov v SZ Sloveniji (Srpenica, Javoršček) in Z Sloveniji (Nikova) z znanim časom nastanka, na podlagi spremembe širine branike datirati podobne drobirske tokove v preteklosti in primerjati odzive različnih drevesnih vrst. Na treh lokacijah smo vzorčili skupno 147 dreves različnih drevesnih vrst (Fagus sylvatica, Pinus sylvestris, Fraxinus excelsior, Fraxinus ornus, Acer pseudoplatanus, Picea abies, Juglans regia, Acer campestre, Tilia cordata in Ostrya carpinifolia), vključno z referenčnimi drevesi, ki niso bila izpostavljena delovanju dejavnika. Pri 91 drevesih smo uspešno izdelali drevesne kronologije in z uporabo metode značilnih let ugotovili leta, ki so pri posameznih drevesnih vrstah ter na posameznih lokacijah glede na širno branike kazala zelo različne trende rasti. Pri drugih drevesih vrstah (večinoma Ostrya carpinifolia, Tilia cordata in Acer pseudoplatanus) nam ni uspelo razbrati vseh branik, oz. sta bili po dve zaporedji širin branik istega drevesa različni. V analizi rasti za prvo leto po dogodku smo šibak odziv na vpliv drobirskih tokov zaznali na lokaciji pod Javorščkom, ne pa tudi v Srpenici in Nikovi. Različne drevesne vrste so se na istih lokacijah odzvale podobno. Ker smo zaznali odziv le na eni lokaciji, nismo mogli rekonstruirati drobirskih tokov po posameznih lokacijah v preteklosti.

• Keywords: drobirski tokovi, lesne branike, dendrogeomorfologija, pobočni procesi