Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Debris-flow susceptibility of upland catchments

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Over the last three decades, many regional studies in mountain ranges under temperate climate revealed that it is possible to discriminate debris-flow and fluvial fans from morphometric indicators measured at the scale of the catchment and the fan itself. The most commonly used indicators are the Melton index (R), a normalized index of the gravitational energy of the catchment, and the fan slope (S). A wide range of thresholds have been proposed for discriminating purpose, but these are generally based on a small population of catchments and may be highly influenced by ambiguous fans included in the data set. A database of 620 upland catchments from several mountain ranges under temperate climate was compiled from the literature to propose robust discriminant morphometric thresholds for debris-flow versus fluvial responses. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and logistic regression (LR) were performed using the whole data set, and a leave-one-out cross-validation was used to evaluate performances of the models. Sensitivity and specificity scores obtained for LDA and LR were 0.96 and 0.73, and 0.95 and 0.75, respectively. It is also shown that the channel slope above which debris-flow is observed decreases with the gravitational energy of the catchment. Limitations of the morphometric discrimination are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beguería S (2006) Validation and evaluation of predictive models in hazard assessment and risk management. Nat Hazards 37(3):315–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blair T, McPherson J (1994) Alluvial fans and their natural distinction from rivers based on morphology, hydraulic processes, sedimentary processes, and facies assemblages. J Sediment Res A 64(3):450–489

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvache ML, Viseras C, Ferndez J (1997) Controls on fan development—evidence from fan morphometry and sedimentology; Sierra Nevada SE Spain. Geomorphology 21(1):69–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ceriani M, Crosta G, Frattini P, Quattrini S (2000) Evaluation of hydrogeological hazard on alluvial fans. In: Conference proceedings interpraevent 2000—Villach/Austria, pp 213–225

  • Crosta GB, Frattini P (2004) Controls on modern alluvial fan processes in the central Alps, Northern Italy. Earth Surf Proc Land 29(3):267–293

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Agostino V, Marchi L (2001) Debris flow magnitude in the Eastern Italian Alps: data collection and analysis. Phys Chem Earth Pt C 26(9):657–663

    Google Scholar 

  • De Scally F, Owens I (2004) Morphometric controls and geomorphic responses on fans in the southern Alps New Zealand. Earth Surf Proc Land 29(3):311–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Scally F, Owens I, Louis J (2010) Controls on fan depositional processes in the schist ranges of the Southern Alps New Zealand and implications for debris-flow hazard assessment. Geomorphology 122(1–2):99–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez-Villar A, Garcia-Ruiz JM (2000) Surface sediment characteristics and present dynamics in alluvial fans of the central Spanish Pyrenees. Geomorphology 34(3–4):127–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey AM (1984) Debris flows and fluvial deposits in Spanish Quaternary alluvial fans: implications for fan morphology. In: Koster EH, Steel RJ (eds) Gravel and conglomerates. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Memoir no. 10, pp 123–132

  • Hungr O (2008) Simplified models of spreading flow of dry granular material. Can Geotech J (45):1156–1168

  • Hungr O, Evans SG, Bovis MG, Hutchinson JN (2001) A review of the classification of landslides of the flow type. EEG 7(3):221–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Hürlimann M, Copons R, Altimir J (2006) Detailed debris flow hazard assessment in Andorra: a multidisciplinary approach. Geomorphology 78(3–4):359–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson L, Kostaschuk R, MacDonald G (1987) Identification of debris flow hazard on alluvial fans in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. In: Costa JE, Wieckzorek GF (eds) Debris flows/avalanches: Geol Soc Am, Reviews in Engineering Geology, vol 7, pp 115–124

  • Jakob M (2005) Debris-flow hazard analysis. In: Jakob M, Hungr O (eds) Debris-flow hazards and related phenomena. Springer-Praxis, Berlin, pp 411–443

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez-Valverde A, Lobo JM, Hortal J (2009) The effect of prevalence and its interaction with sample size on the reliability of species distribution models. Commun Ecol 10(2):196–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan P (2007) Kemp Creek Fire N70171 Post-Wildfire Risk Analysis. Technical report. BC Ministry of Forests and Range: Kootenay Lake Forest District Southern Interior Forest Region and Southeast Fire Centre, p 12

  • Kostaschuk R, MacDonald GM, Putnam PE (1986) Depositional process and alluvial fan-drainage basin morphometric relationships near Banff Alberta Canada. Earth Surf Proc Land 11(5):471–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovanen DJ, Slaymaker O (2008) The morphometric and stratigraphic framework for estimates of debris flow incidence in the North Cascades foothills Washington State USA. Geomorphology 99(1–4):224–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenzi M (2000) Detailed report of contractor for first progress meeting. Technical report. University of Padova. Department of Land and Agro-forest environments—Water resources division, p 80

  • Liébault F (2003) Les rivières torrentielles des montagnes drômoises : évolution contemporaine et fonctionnement géomorphologique actuel (massifs du Diois et des Baronnies). PhD thesis. Université Lumière Lyon 2, p 358

  • Malet JP, Maquaire O, Locat J, Remaitre A (2004) Assessing debris flow hazards associated with slow moving landslides: methodology and numerical analyses. Landslides 1(1):83–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mambretti S (2009) Uncertainities in Hydraulic Structures Designing and Management: an Overview. Technical report. DIIAR—Hydraulic Engineering Politecnico di Milano Italy, p 9

  • Mangeney A, Roche O, Hungr O, Mangold N, Faccanoni G, Lucas A (2010) Erosion and mobility in granular collapse over sloping beds. J Geophys Res Earth Surf 115(3):1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao L, Cavalli M, Comiti F, Marchi L, Lenzi M, Arattano M (2009) Sediment transfer processes in two Alpine catchments of contrasting morphological settings. J Hydrol 364(1–2):88–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchi L, Brochot S (2000) Les cônes de déjection torrentiels dans les Alpes françaises morphométrie et processus de transport solide torrentiel. Revue de Géographie Alpine 88(3):23–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchi L, Cavalli M (2007) Procedures for the documentation of historical debris flows: application to the Chieppena Torrent (Italian Alps). Environ Manage 40(3):493–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchi L, Pasuto A, Tecca P (1993) Flow processes on alluvial fans in the Eastern Italian Alps. Z Geomorphol 37(4):447–458

    Google Scholar 

  • Melton M (1965) The geomorphic and paleoclimatic significance of alluvial deposits in southern Arizona. J Geol 73:1–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien RM (2007) A caution regarding rules of thumb for variance inflation factors. Qual Quant 41(5):673–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Remaitre A (2006) Morphologie et dynamique des laves torrentielles: applications aux torrents des Terres Noires du bassin de Barcelonnette (Alpes du Sud). PhD thesis. Université de Caen, p 487

  • Rowbotham D, De Scally F, Louis J (2005) The identification of debris torrent basins using morphometric measures derived within a GIS. Geogr Ann A 87(4):527–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos Alonso R (2011) Flujos de los derrubios en la Cornisa Cantábrica: evidencias, modelo de susceptibilidad y relevancia geomorfológica. PhD thesis, Departamento de Geología, p 229

  • Scheidl C, Rickenmann D (2010) Empirical prediction of debris-flow mobility and deposition on fans. Earth Surf Proc Land 35(2):157–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorriso-Valvo M, Antronico L, Pera EL (1998) Controls on modern fan morphology in Calabria Southern Italy. Geomorphology 24(2–3):169–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thénard L (2009) Torrents et torrentialité dans la vallée de la Guisane. Contribution d’une étude géographique à la gestion durable du risque torrentiel à Serre-chevalier (Briançonnais; Hautes-Alpes; France). PhD thesis. Université Lille 1, p 549

  • Theule JI, Liébault F, Loye A, Laigle D, Jaboyedoff M (2012) Sediment budget monitoring of debris-flow and bedload transport in the Manival Torrent, SE France. Nat Hazard Earth Sys 12(3):731–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venables WN, Smith DM and the R Core Team (2012) An introduction to R. Notes on R: a programming environment for data analysis and graphics. Version 2.15.2, p 109

  • Wells SG, Harvey AM (1987) Sedimentologic and geomorphic variations in storm-generated alluvial fans, Howgill Fells, northwest England. Geol Soc Am Bull 98(2):182–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilford D, Sakals M, Innes J, Sidle R, Bergerud W (2004) Recognition of debris flow debris flood and flood hazard through watershed morphometrics. Landslides 1(1):61–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue J-H, Titterington DM (2008) Do unbalanced data have a negative effect on LDA? Pattern Recogn 41(5):1558–1571

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research is a part of the EU Interreg Alpine Space PARAmount project (“imProved Accessibility: Reliability and security of Alpine transport infrastructure related to mountainous hazards in a changing climate”) and CPER PACA Rhytmme project. The authors thank Lise Vaudor for her advices with statistical processing, Aurélie Carlin for her help with database compilation and preliminary analysis on the subject, and the ISIG platform at ENS of Lyon for material support. This paper benefits from comments by three anonymous reviewers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Irstea, Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France

    Mélanie Bertrand, Frédéric Liébault & Hervé Piégay

Authors
  1. Mélanie Bertrand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frédéric Liébault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hervé Piégay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mélanie Bertrand.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bertrand, M., Liébault, F. & Piégay, H. Debris-flow susceptibility of upland catchments. Nat Hazards 67, 497–511 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0575-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0575-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation