The Use of Airborne Laser Swath Mapping on Fans and Cones: An Example from the Colorado Front Range

Abstract

Debris fan systems are common features of mountainous environments, particularly in formerly glaciated valleys in the Arctic, Antarctic, and high mountains of the lower latitudes (Rapp 1960a, b; Albjar et al. 1979; Church et al. 1979; White 1981; Caine 1983; Perez 1993). The prevalence of these landforms in these physiographic settings is attributed to rapid weathering associated with the presence of oversteepened valley sides, stress unloading of rock walls following deglaciation, and the severity of the climate (Matsuoka and Sakai 1999; Ballantyne 2002; Curry and Morris 2004). These factors are conducive to the development of fan deposits by rockfall, debris-flow and avalanche activity, each of which represent a significant hazards to fan areas.