Dendrogeomorphic reconstruction of past debris-flow activity using injured broad-leaved trees

2010 ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
Estelle Arbellay ◽  
Markus Stoffel ◽  
Michelle Bollschweiler
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Flow Activity

scholarly journals Debris-flow activity in abandoned channels of the Manival torrent reconstructed with LiDAR and tree-ring data

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1247-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lopez Saez ◽  
C. Corona ◽  
M. Stoffel ◽  
A. Gotteland ◽  
F. Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Alluvial Fan ◽  
Tree Ring Data ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Flow Activity ◽  
Abandoned Channels

Abstract. Hydrogeomorphic processes are a major threat in many parts of the Alps, where they periodically damage infrastructure, disrupt transportation corridors or even cause loss of life. Nonetheless, past torrential activity and the analysis of areas affected during particular events remain often imprecise. It was therefore the purpose of this study to reconstruct spatio-temporal patterns of past debris-flow activity in abandoned channels on the forested cone of the Manival torrent (Massif de la Chartreuse, French Prealps). A Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) generated Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to identify five abandoned channels and related depositional forms (lobes, lateral levees) in the proximal alluvial fan of the torrent. A total of 156 Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) with clear signs of debris flow events was analyzed and growth disturbances (GD) assessed, such as callus tissue, the onset of compression wood or abrupt growth suppression. In total, 375 GD were identified in the tree-ring samples, pointing to 13 debris-flow events for the period 1931–2008. While debris flows appear to be very common at Manival, they have only rarely propagated outside the main channel over the past 80 years. Furthermore, analysis of the spatial distribution of disturbed trees contributed to the identification of four patterns of debris-flow routing and led to the determination of three preferential breakout locations. Finally, the results of this study demonstrate that the temporal distribution of debris flows did not exhibit significant variations since the beginning of the 20th century.

scholarly journals Infrasound Array Analysis of Debris Flow Activity and Implication for Early Warning

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Marchetti ◽  
F. Walter ◽  
G. Barfucci ◽  
R. Genco ◽  
M. Wenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Array Analysis ◽  
Flow Activity

scholarly journals Debris flows on forested cones – reconstruction and comparison of frequencies in two catchments in Val Ferret, Switzerland

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bollschweiler ◽  
M. Stoffel
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Historical Knowledge ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Sampling Height ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Recurrence Intervals ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Flow Activity ◽  
Different Characteristics

Abstract. Debris flows represent a major threat to infrastructure in many regions of the Alps. Since systematic acquisition of data on debris-flow events in Switzerland only started after the events of 1987, there is a lack of historical knowledge on earlier debris-flow events for most torrents. It is therefore the aim of this study to reconstruct the debris-flow activity for the Reuse de Saleinaz and the La Fouly torrents in Val Ferret (Valais, Switzerland). In total, 556 increment cores from 278 heavily affected Larix decidua Mill., Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L. trees were sampled. Trees on the cone of Reuse de Saleinaz show an average age of 123 years at sampling height, with the oldest tree aged 325 years. Two periods of intense colonization (the 1850s–1880s and the 1930s–1950s) are observed, probably following high-magnitude events that would have eliminated the former forest stand. Trees on the cone of Torrent de la Fouly indicate an average age of 119 years. As a whole, tree-ring analyses allowed assessment of 333 growth disturbances belonging to 69 debris-flow events. While the frequency for the Reuse de Saleinaz study site comprises 39 events between AD 1743 and 2003, 30 events could be reconstructed at the Torrent de la Fouly for the period 1862–2003. Even though the two study sites evince considerably different characteristics in geology, debris-flow material and catchment morphology, they apparently produce debris flows at similar recurrence intervals. We suppose that, in the study region, the triggering and occurrence of events is transport-limited rather than weathering-limited.

Dendrogeomorphic assessment and sediment transfer of natural vs. mining-induced debris-flow activity in Călimani Mountains, Eastern Carpathians, Romania

Geomorphology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 327 ◽  
pp. 188-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olimpiu Traian Pop ◽  
Daniel Germain ◽  
Flaviu Meseşan ◽  
Ionela-Georgiana Gavrilă ◽  
Mircea Alexe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Eastern Carpathians ◽  
Sediment Transfer ◽  
Flow Activity

Changing debris flow activity after sudden sediment input: a case study from the Swiss Alps

Geology Today ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 216-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Baer ◽  
Christian Huggel ◽  
Brian W. McArdell ◽  
Florian Frank
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Sediment Input ◽  
Flow Activity

scholarly journals Debris-flow activity in five adjacent gullies in a limestone mountain range

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Schraml ◽  
Markus Oismüller ◽  
Markus Stoffel ◽  
Johannes Hübl ◽  
Roland Kaitna
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
National Park ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Sediment Sources ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Flow Activity ◽  
Local Variability

Abstract Debris-flows are infrequent geomorphic phenomena that shape steep valleys and can repre-sent a severe hazard for human settlements and infrastructure. In this study, a debris-flow event chro-nology has been derived at the regional scale within the Gesäuse National Park (Styria, Austria) using dendrogeomorphic techniques. Sediment sources and deposition areas were mapped by combined field investigation and aerial photography using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Through the analysis of 384 trees, a total of 47 debris-flows occurring in 19 years between AD 1903 and 2008 were identified in five adjacent gullies. Our results highlight the local variability of debris-flow activi-ty as a result of local thunderstorms and the variable availability of sediment sources.

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