Debris flows are an unpredictable natural phenomenon that can occur suddenly in both time and space. In time, rainfall forecasting in mountainous areas cannot precisely determine where or when debris flows will occur due to the small time and space scales of storm cells. In space, debris flows may take new paths not previously used or occur in locations that have not seen them before, even after significant rainfall events. Debris flows can travel unpredictably through torrents along stream beds or carve new channels on fans.
1 of 13
Download to read offline
More Related Content
02 imprevedibilita fenomeno_en
1. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
Debris flows:
quite an unforeseeble/
unpredictable phenomenon in
time and space
2. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
1) In time
Rainfall forecasting in a mountain environment
is not possible with the precision requested for the
determination of debris flow occurence:
time resolution of storm cell: 15 minutes or less
space resolution of a storm cell: 200 m.
2) In space
Recurrent debris flows can deviate from usual path or a new
one can origin after some heavy meteorological event in a
place where such an event never occurred
Debris Flow: quite an unforeseeable
phenomenon in time (1) and unpredictable
space (2)
3. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
Debris Flow: quite an unforeseeable
phenomenon in time - 1
Debris flow initiation area
4. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
Debris Flow: quite an unforeseeable
phenomenon in time - 2
Rainfall depths corresponding to the debris flows of 23 July 2015 (a,b) and
4 August 2015 (c,d)
5. Carlo Gregoretti
23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
Debris Flow: quite an unforeseeable
phenomenon in space - 1
1940 - 1960
1980 - 2006
1960 - 1980
Rio Acquabona Negra
at km 98 of National Road SS 51 Alemagna
23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
6. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
Debris Flow: quite an unforeseeable
phenomenon in space - 2
The debris flow on the central picture activated for the first time in August
2009 and threatened the regional road SR 48.
Google-Earth 2004
aerial photograph
2006
after the event in
2009
Debris flow occurred at
Auronzo (SR 48)
August 8th, 2009
7. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
Debris flow: where does it routes and
which route does it travel?
Debris flow routes in torrent along thalweg (1) or excavates a
channel on a fan (2):
old ch.
new ch.
9. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
Spreading and deposition area of debris flow: deviation from original path
of the debris flow occurred the 5th of July 2006
Deviation from the original path - 1
10. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
old channel
new channel
Retaining basin
Spreading and deposition area of debris flow: deviation from original path
of the debris flow occurred the 4th of July 2011. Downstream view.
Deviation from the original path - 2
11. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017
Mekele University - Debris flows
August 2010
4th of July 2011
new channel
Old channelnew direction
Retaining basin
Spreading and deposition area of debris flow: deviation from original path
of the debris flow occurred the 4th of July 2011. Upstream view.
Deviation from the original path - 3
12. Carlo Gregoretti
23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
August 2010
4th of July 2011
new channel
Old channel
18th of August 2011
18th of August 2011
Deviation from the original path - 4
Spreading and deposition area of debris flow: deviation from original path
of the debris flow occurred the 18th of August 2011. Upstream view.
13. Carlo Gregoretti23/05/2017 Mekele University - Debris flows
all debris flow events recorded at Fiames
Red lines = all debris
flows routing path
Blue area = area involved
by occurred debris flows
Deviation from the original path:
hystorical view