GSA Bookstore

Table of Contents - Special Paper 386

Reconstruction of Pleistocene Ice-Dammed Lake Outburst Floods in the Altai Mountains, Siberia

Edited by Jürgen Herget


Abstract 1

Chapter 1. Introduction
Problems 3
Aims 3
Methods 4
Structure of the Study 4

Chapter 2. Ice-Dammed Lakes and Jökulhlaups
2.1  Classification of Ice-Dammed Lakes 7
2.2  Mode of Drainage and Outburst Mechanisms 8
2,3  Hydrographs of Jökulhlaups 9
2.4  Occurrence and Distribution 9

Chapter 3. Altai Mountains
3.1  Location and Geology 13
3.2  Current Climate 15
3.3  Quaternary of Altai Mountains 16

Chapter 4. Evidence of Jökulhlaups in the Altai Mountains
4.1  Previous Studies and Reviews 19
4.2  Flood-Related Features 22
  4.2.1  Lake Sediments and Shorelines 22
  4.2.2  Ice Dam and Failure Mechanism 24
  4.2.3  Giant Bars and Indication of Flow Conditions 27
  4.2.4  Secondary Lakes 34
  4.2.5  Gravel Dunes 35
  4.2.6  Erosional Forms 37
  4.2.7  Boulder Deposits 38
4.3  Criticism on Occurrence of Jökulhlaups in the Altai Mountains 38
4.4  Open Questions 39

Chapter 5. Reconstruction of the Floods
5.1  Uniform Flow Calculation 41
5.1.1  Introduction 41
  5.1.2  Hydraulic Background 41
  5.1.3  Data from the Altai Mountains 42
  5.1.4  Paleohydraulic Calculations 42
  5.1.5  Discussion 44
5.2  Flow Calculation by HEC-RAS 44
  5.2.1  Introduction 44
  5.2.2  Hydraulics 45
  5.2.3  Paleostage Indicators 46
  5.2.4  Paleohydraulic Calculation 47
  5.2.4.1  Previous water level calculations of Pleistocene outburst floods 47
    5.2.4.2  Previous water profile calculations for the flood in the Altai Mountains 49
    5.2.4.3  Calculations for mixed flow regime 53
  5.2.5  Discussion 56
5.3  Velocity Head Calculations using Run-Up Sediments 57
  5.3.1  Introduction 57
  5.3.2  Hydraulics 57
  5.3.3  Run-Up Sediments in Chuja and Katun Valley 58
  5.3.4  Paleohydraulic Calculation 59
  5.3.5  Discussion 61
5.4  Correlation of Lake Volume and Peak Discharge 62
  5.4.1  Introduction 62
  5.4.2  Hydraulics 66
  5.4.3  Volume of Ice-Dammed Lake 67
  5.4.4  Paleohydraulic Calculation 67
  5.4.5  Discussion 67
5.5  Boulder Transport 68
  5.5.1  Introduction 68
  5.5.2  Hydraulic Background 68
  5.5.3  Boulders near Inja Village 71
  5.5.4  Paleohydraulic Calculations 71
  5.5.5  Discussion 72
5.6  Gravel dunes 73
  5.6.1  Introduction 73
  5.6.2  Hydraulic Background 73
  5.6.3  Dune Data for Paleohydraulic Reconstruction 76
  5.6.4  Paleohydraulic Calculations 82
  5.6.5  Discussion 86
5.7  Obstacle marks 86
  5.7.1  Introduction 86
  5.7.2  Hydraulic Background 88
    5.7.2.1  Submerged obstacles 88
    5.7.2.2  Bridge piers 88
  5.7.3  Examples of Obstacle Marks in Chuja and Katun Valleys 92
  5.7.3  Paleohydraulic Calculations 97
  5.7.3  Discussion 100

Chapter 6. Review of Dynamics of the Altai Jökulhlaups

101

Acknowledgments

103

Appendices
Table A1.  Location and Characteristics of Flood Features 104
Table A2.  Bar Surfaces and Levels from Topographic Maps 110

References Cited

111