@inbook{7c933a817ff34a80aaad90ff4f247abd,
title = "Rock-slope failures in the North West Highlands",
abstract = "Over 400 postglacial rock-slope failures >0.1 km2 in extent have been identified in the NW Highlands. Most are rock-slope deformations (40%) or arrested rockslides (38%), with smaller numbers of fragmented slides, rock avalanches and rockfalls or topples; 78% are located on schists. All can be considered paraglacial features, preconditioned by rock damage due to ice loading and unloading, glacial erosion, thermomechanical effects and hydromechanical fatigue during successive glacial episodes. Progressive failure (brittle shearing of internal rock bridges and reduction of friction angles to residual) has probably played a major role in reducing rock-mass strength to critical levels, and there is evidence that seismic activity caused by reactivation of faults during glacio-isostatic uplift may have triggered rock release in some (possibly many) cases. Numerous debris-free failure scars represent rupture surfaces of rock-slope failures where displaced rock or runout debris has been removed by glaciers during the Loch Lomond Stade or earlier. Rock-slope failures operating throughout much of the Quaternary have played a significant role in shaping the present form of mountain summits and ridges, glacial troughs and many cirques.",
keywords = "Arrested rockslides, Debris-free failure scars, Earthquakes, Fragmented rockslides, Paraglacial, Progressive failure, Rock avalanches, Rock-slope deformations, Rockfall, Toppling failures",
author = "Ballantyne, {Colin K.}",
year = "2021",
month = aug,
day = "25",
doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-71246-4_14",
language = "English",
isbn = "9783030712457",
series = "World geomorphological landscapes",
publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media B.V.",
pages = "271--287",
editor = "Ballantyne, {Colin K.} and Gordon, {John E.}",
booktitle = "Landscapes and landforms of Scotland",
address = "Germany",
}