ИСТИНА

Mountainous landscapes of the Lovozerskiye Tundry are frequently affected by medium magnitude debris flows with average recurrence interval of about 30 years or less. Field investigation and remote sensing data interpretation revealed more than 30 debris flow basins in the massif. Debris flows result in local but drastic changes in both surface topography and plant communities those are commonly underestimated in the Polar Regions. Zones of debris flow transit are characterized by repeated almost complete removal of vegetation from the valley floors. In deposition zones, partial burial of vegetative cover with debris flow deposits is occasionally simultaneous with elimination of trees and shrubs unfolding a potential for numerical dating of the age of such events. Low rates of tundra and forest successions against the relatively high frequency of debris flows result usually in incomplete regeneration of original plant communities at the most valley floors.