Home >> Landslides, Volume 6, Number 1

Field observations of the June 30, 2001 debris flow at Acquabona (Dolomites, Italy)

Authors: Tecca, Pia1; Genevois, Rinaldo2

Source: Landslides, Volume 6, Number 1, March 2009 , pp. 39-45(7)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

On June 30, 2001, a debris flow occurred in the Acquabona Creek, a small catchment of the Eastern Dolomites, Italy. This debris flow originated shortly after an intense rainstorm, characterised by a peak intensity of 8.6 mm per 10 min; it transported a total volume of 30,000 m3, consisting of poorly sorted gravely sand with boulders up to 3 m in diameter. The sediment erosion yield rate reached as high as 20 m3/m. In order to verify the accuracy of the field measurements, the total volume of debris deposits have was calculated using three different topographic measurement techniques: 3D laser scanning, terrestrial stereo-photogrammetry survey and total topographic station survey. Data collected so far show that no debris flow has occurred at Acquabona with a rainfall intensity lower than 4.6 mm per 10 min. Channel cross section measurements indicate that debris flow velocity ranges from 2.0 to 7.2 m/s along the lower flow channel and peak discharge ranges between 22 and 300 m3/s. Field estimates of the rheological properties indicate a yield strength ranging from 2,088 to 5,313 Pa and Bingham viscosity between 70 and 337 Pa · s. It is not still possible to identify a rainfall intensity and amount threshold for debris flow triggering, but the data so far collected emphasise that debris flows do not occur with a rainfall intensity lower than 4.6 mm per 10 min.

Keywords: Debris flow; Precipitation; Physical properties; Rheological properties; Dolomites, Italy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10346-009-0145-8

Affiliations: 1: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, IRPI, C.so Stati Uniti 4, 35127, Padova, Italy, Email: pia.tecca@irpi.cnr.it 2: Dipartimento di Geologia, Università di Padova, Via Giotto 1, 35137, Padova, Italy

Publication date: 2009-03-01

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