Published in
Springer (part of Springer Nature), Landslides, 2(12), p. 395-402
DOI: 10.1007/s10346-015-0556-7
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Rock avalanche on 14 July 2014 from Hillary Ridge, Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand
,
M. J. McSaveney,
J. Spencer,
S. K. Allen,
S. Ashraf,
G. T. Hancox,
P. Sirguey,
J. Salichon,
B. G. Ferris,
P. Sirguery
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Abstract
A large rock avalanche fell from the slope below Hillary Ridge of Aoraki/Mount Cook at 21:32 (New Zealand Standard Time (NZST)=UTC+12 h) on Monday 14 July 2014. About 0.9 million m 3 of indurated greywacke collapsed from a >60° slope at 43.6165°S 170.1427°E between 2600 and 2920 m, without warning or apparent trigger. The avalanche of rock debris crossed Noeline Glacier névé, entraining snow and ice debris, before passing through an icefall, accelerating down steepening slopes and ended on Hooker Glacier. A small mountaineering shelter sited on a topographic high within the avalanche path was damaged but not completely destroyed. Covering a total fall of 1600 m and travel distance of 3.9 km, the avalanche angle of reach was 24°. The deposit of rock, snow and ice debris covers 1.4 million m 2