Comparing the characteristics of rockfall talus and snow avalanche landforms in an Alpine environment using a new methodological approach: Massif desEcrins, French Alps

The geometry and sedimentology of 49 talus slope deposits have been analyse d in the French Alps to show the effects of snow avalanche activity on thei r characteristics. Twenty slopes are heavily avalanche-modified, 15 are sno w-avalanche boulder tongues and 14 are rockfall-talus slopes. Slope angle, slope segmentation, longitudinal and sorting indices provide criteria to di fferentiate these deposits. Although the transition from rockfall- to avala nche-dominated slopes is gradational, a "transitional talus" is identified with distinctive characteristics. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.