Abstract
To examine the distribution of physical weathering, field experiments were performed by weight-loss method at a snowpatch site in the Daisetsu Mountains, Japan. Soft, porous, weathering-susceptible tabular tuff-blocks were used in these experiments. Percentages of weight-loss were higher in the central and lower parts of the snowpatch rubble slopes. The valley bottom and wind-beaten rubble slopes had moderate weight-loss. On the other hand, the percentages were lower in the upper parts of the snowpatch rubble slopes. Weight-loss showed a significant rank correlation with rock moisture content on freeze-thaw days. Therefore, the weight-loss would be caused by frost weathering. However, wetting-drying weathering and snow creep may affect the weight-loss in the wind-beaten rubble slopes and the upper parts of the snowpatch rubble slopes.
