Knowra Rockfall Rockfall Rockfall is the rapid descent of detached rock fragments down a steep slope or cliff. Fragments move by falling, bouncing, or rolling, often accumulating as talus below.
Joint (geology) : A fracture in rock along which there has been little or no displacement. Joints divide cliffs into blocks that can detach and fall.
Rockfall hazard assessment : The evaluation of where rockfall may occur, how often, and with what potential reach or impact. It combines source conditions and trajectories to characterize danger.
Landslide : The downslope movement of rock, soil, or debris under gravity. Rockfall is one distinct movement style within the broader category of landslides.
Rockfall impact energy : The kinetic energy delivered when a falling rock fragment strikes a surface or structure. Impact energy helps explain damage potential and protection requirements.
Yosemite Valley rockfalls : Rockfall events from the steep granite cliffs surrounding Yosemite Valley in California. The valley’s cliffs and documented events show how rockfall affects a major park.
Freeze–thaw weathering : The breakdown of rock as water freezes and expands within cracks, then thaws. Repeated freezing can widen fractures and loosen rock blocks.
Rockfall simulation : A numerical or physical modeling method for estimating rockfall paths, speeds, and runout. Simulations help compare likely paths with roads, buildings, and defenses.
Rockslide : The downslope movement of a coherent mass of rock along a surface of rupture. Unlike rockfall, a rockslide moves mainly as a sliding mass.
Rockfall runout : The downslope distance or area reached by falling rock fragments from their source. Runout defines which roads, structures, or terrain may be exposed.
El Capitan rockfall : Rockfall events originating on El Capitan, a granite monolith in Yosemite National Park. Large falls there reveal how fractures and cliff geometry govern block release.
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