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Abstract
About 20% of the territory of the USSR is subject to avalanche activity. The resulting avalanche natural-territory complexes possess a certain unity because they have a common origin, the same pattern of development, and are subject to the same active avalanche processes. The formation of these natural-territory complexes should be considered in the context of their zonal, altitudinal belt, and sector characteristics, since their general geographic position determines the hydroclimatic and biogenetic basis.
The lithogenetic base of the avalanche-territory complex depends upon the geological and geomorphological conditions, and also upon the particular avalanche regime. Mineral fans form at a rate which varies between 0.1 and 13.8 mm yr−1 for the different mountain regions. The characteristics of the avalanche natural-territory complexes were studied in the different altitudinal belts (nival, subnival, alpine, subalpine, and coniferous forest) of the various zonal mountain regions of the USSR, ranging from the Arctic to the most southerly latitudes. It was found that these characteristics are more closely related to altitudinal belt than to zonal position.
Avalanche complexes of the coniferous forest belt, and especially that of the Caucasian Baksan Valley, were studied in great detail. Here it was found that former avalanche activity could be determined on the basis of forest type, density, and deformation of tree trunks. These conclusions have proved valuable for mapping areas that may experience avalanche danger in the future.