Holocene debris-flow deposits and their implications on the climate in the upper Jinsha River valley, China

Major debris-flow deposits occur along the xerothermic valley of the upper Jinsha River. The debris-flow deposits, ranging in thickness from 1 to 20 m, invariably occupy gently inclined piedmont slopes. The sediments are presently deeply dissected by gullies, and the process of mass movement has almost ceased. Detailed textural, stratigraphical, and geochemical studies reveal the formation processes of the debris flows. Seven debris-flow incidents are noted based on the unit combination characteristics of debris-flow deposits. The age estimates of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) show that the occurrence of debris flows started at around 10.6 kyr BP and weakened until 4.5 kyr BP, corresponding to the obvious strengthened phase of the summer monsoons in the region. The ages of the debris-flow deposits indicate that the occurrence of a mass of debris flows was a response to the intensified summer monsoon in the SE fringe of the Tibetan Plateau since the early Holocene.     

ON THE GEOCHRONOLOGICAL METHOD VERSUS FLOW SIMULATION SOFTWARE APPLICATION FOR LAHAR RISK MAPPING: A CASE STUDY OF POPOCATÉPETL VOLCANO,MEXICO

Lahars are hazardous events that can cause serious damage to people who live close to volcanic areas; several were registered at different times in the last century, such as at Mt St Helens (USA) in 1980, Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia) in 1985 and Mt Pinatubo (Philippines) in 1990. Risk maps are currently used by decision‐makers to help them plan to mitigate the hazard‐risk of lahars. Risk maps are acquired based on a series of tenets that take into account the distribution and chronology of past lahar deposits, and basically two approaches have been used: (1) The use of Flow Simulation Software (FSS), which simulates flows along channels in a Digital Elevation Model and (2) The Geochronological Method (GM), in which the mapping is based on the evaluation of lahar magnitude and frequency. This study addresses the production of a lahar risk map using the two approaches (FSS and GM) for a study area located at Popocatépetl volcano – Central Mexico. Santiago Xalitzintla, a town located on the northern flank of Popocatépetl volcano, where volcanic activity in recent centuries has triggered numerous lahars that have endangered local inhabitants, has been used for the case study. Results from FSS did not provide satisfactory findings because they were not consistent with lahar sediment observations made during fieldwork. By contrast, the GM produced results consistent with these observations, and therefore we use them to assess the hazard and produce the risk map for the study area.     

Plant Colonization of Recent Lahar Deposits on Popocatepetl Volcano,Mexico

This work investigates the initial colonization on recent lahar deposits of the northeast slope of Popocatepetl volcano, Mexico, where 29 circular sample plots (1.57 m²) were established to determine the development stages of colonization in four types of habitats: 1997 lahar, 2001 lahar, margins, and terraces at the channel's bottom. Cluster analysis and the Sørensen Index were used to determine the floristic affinity of these lahars. Richness, frequency, percentage of species contribution, plant cover, density, and stem height were analyzed to determine the composition and structure of plant communities. The distribution of these variables reveals that the communities often have a simple internal structure; however, a relationship has already been established between changes in resilience and the age of the four lahars. Thus, floristic composition develops rapidly (1 sp. in terraces, 11 spp. in the margins, 29 spp. in the 2001 lahar, and 34 spp. in the 1997 lahar). Except for the 1997 lahar, however, structural characteristics are poorly developed in other incipient stages. As colonization advances, the affinity among the various components and sectors of the laharic deposits decreases, thus promoting the gradual incorporation of species found on the adjacent gorge slopes. The Principal Components Analysis used to identify other explanatory factors shows that of 15 variables studied, those associated with the morpho-sedimentology, the hydrovolcanic dynamics and stability of deposits (microtopography, thickness of the deposit, clast shapes, length of the deposit, depth of the gorge, and slope processes) explain a large percentage of variance. Only a few species (Lupinus campestris, Alchemilla procumbens and Penstemon gentianoides), are well adapted to poor soils and the effects of intense erosion caused by the flows.     

人类活动对黄河中游高含沙水流的影响

以黄河中游干流和渭河、无定河的资料研究了人类活动对黄土高原河流高含沙水流的发生频率的影响。人类破坏森林植被，大量拦截黄河上游清水来源区的清水基流，使得高含沙水流发生频率增大，大规模水土保持措施的实施则使高含沙水流发生频率迅速减小。近50年来黄河干流和一些支流的高含沙水流随时间的变化可以用一个三阶段模式来概括，即20世纪50-60年代，由于人类破坏植被，使高含水流频率增大；20世纪60年代末至80年代中期，大规模水土保持措施的实施使高含沙水流发生的频率减小；20世纪80年代末期以来，人类大量拦截利用清水资源，使高含沙水流的发生频率又复增大。     

Simulation of event-based landslides and debris flows at watershed level

A coupled model has been developed to simulate, at watershed level, landslides and debris flows induced by a severe typhoon (tropical cyclone) in Taiwan. The model comprises a landslide susceptibility model to predict landslide occurrence, an empirical model to select debris-flow initiation points, and a debris flow model to simulate the transport and deposit of failed materials from the identified source areas. In raster format with a 10 m spatial resolution, the model output includes unstable cells, debris-flow initiation cells, debris-flow velocities, runout paths, and deposition zones. The model was first tested and calibrated in a small area, where the damage by landslides had been investigated and recorded. It was then applied to a watershed, and the simulation results were validated by comparing them with a landslide/debris-flow inventory map prepared from satellite images using a multiple change detection technique. Model test and validation results confirm the usefulness of the model in predicting the number and size of affected areas (landslides and runouts combined), runout path, and volume of runout deposits. It is a common practice in Taiwan to separate landslide and debris-flow inventories and to study debris flows only in select drainage basins. This study suggests that landslide and debris flow should be modeled as a sequential process for efficient watershed management.     

THE NATURE AND RATE OF ALLUVIAL FAN AGGRADATION IN A HUMID TEMPERATE ENVIRONMENT,NORTHWEST WASHINGTON

Comparatively little is known about net aggradation on alluvial fans, despite fan construction wherever sediment-delivery rates from uplands exceed sediment-removal rates from receiving basins. In January 1983, 20 alluvial fans in the forested Cascade foothills, northwest Washington, experienced net aggradation in response to debris torrents and stream floods triggered by intense warm rains falling on antecedent snow. Five trenches were excavated to 5 m depth on the Mills Creek fan to place the 1983 event in temporal perspective. The deposits reflect normal streamflow, hyperconcentrated streamflow and debris torrent (flow) conditions. One trench revealed residues of 7 events since 1720 BP. Net rates of Holocene aggradation, based on sediments overlying late Pleistocene fluvioglacial deposits, average 0.42 m ka^-1. Net rates for later Holocene time range from 2.17 m ka^-1 since 1720 BP to 2.36 m ka^-1 since 430 BP. These recent rates exceed the local value for the entire Holocene and rates for humid temperate fans elsewhere. This suggests that accelerated aggradation may characterize later Holocene times, a view that contrasts with the widespread belief that the later Holocene has been dominated by fan-head incision and net degradation. More comparative data are needed to test this observation. Locally, large debris-producing events in 1917 and 1983 are consistent with later Holocene recurrence intervals and thus appear to be independent of timber harvesting. [Key words: alluvial fan, debris torrent, debris flow, streamflow, Washington.]     

Contrasting rainfall generated debris flows from adjacent watersheds at Forest Falls, southern California, USA

Debris flows are widespread and common in many steeply sloping areas of southern California. The San Bernardino Mountains community of Forest Falls is probably subject to the most frequently documented debris flows in southern California. Debris flows at Forest Falls are generated during short-duration high-intensity rains that mobilize surface material. Except for debris flows on two consecutive days in November 1965, all the documented historic debris flows have occurred during high-intensity summer rainfall, locally referred to as ‘monsoon’ or ‘cloudburst’ rains. Velocities of the moving debris range from about 5 km/h to about 90 km/h. Velocity of a moving flow appears to be essentially a function of the water content of the flow. Low velocity debris flows are characterized by steep snouts that, when stopped, have only small amounts of water draining from the flow. In marked contrast are high-velocity debris flows whose deposits more resemble fluvial deposits. In the Forest Falls area two adjacent drainage basins, Snow Creek and Rattlesnake Creek, have considerably different histories of debris flows. Snow Creek basin, with an area about three times as large as Rattlesnake Creek basin, has a well developed debris flow channel with broad levees. Most of the debris flows in Snow Creek have greater water content and attain higher velocities than those of Rattlesnake Creek. Most debris flows are in relative equilibrium with the geometry of the channel morphology. Exceptionally high-velocity flows, however, overshoot the channel walls at particularly tight channel curves. After overshooting the channel, the flows degrade the adjacent levee surface and remove trees and structures in the immediate path, before spreading out with decreasing velocity. As the velocity decreases the clasts in the debris flows pulverize the up-slope side of the trees and often imbed clasts in them. Debris flows in Rattlesnake Creek are relatively slow moving and commonly stop in the channel. After the channel is blocked, subsequent debris flows cut a new channel upstream from the blockage that results in the deposition of new debris-flow deposits on the lower part of the fan. Shifting the location of debris flows on the Rattlesnake Creek fan tends to prevent trees from becoming mature. Dense growths of conifer seedlings sprout in the spring on the late summer debris flow deposits. This repeated process results in stands of even-aged trees whose age records the age of the debris flows.     

Hyperconcentrated Flows in the Slope-Channel Systems in Gullied Hilly Areas on the Loess Plateau, China

This study is based on the data from Zizhou and Wangjiagou experimental stations on the Loess Plateau in the major sediment‐producing areas of the middle Yellow River drainage basin. It deals with characteristics of hyperconcentrated flows in the slope‐channel systems in the gullied hilly areas on the Loess Plateau. The results show that the formation of hyperconcentrated flows is closely related to the vertical differentiation of landforms. Based on data from 21 rainfall events in the period 1963–1970, event‐averaged suspended sediment concentration for hilltop, upper hillslope, lower hillslope and gully slope was calculated as 36 kg/m³, 89 kg/m³, 304 kg/m³ and 505 kg/m³, and the frequency of hyperconcentrated flows was 0.0, 0.17, 0.74 and 1.0, respectively. Thus, hyperconcentrated flows form on the lower part of hillslopes and on the gully slopes, and develope well in gully channels of various orders. There exists a sediment storing‐releasing mechanism, resulting from different behaviours of sediment transport by non‐hyperconcentrated and hyperconcentrated flows. When water flows are nonhyperconcentrated, the relatively coarse fractions of sediment from the slopes are deposited in the channel. When hyperconcentrated flows occur, the previously deposited coarse sediment may be eroded and released from the channel. A close relationship is found between rainstorms and the formation of hyperconcentrated flows, and some thresholds of rainfall and runoff for the occurrence of hyperconcentrated flows have been identified.     

黄河中游支流悬移质粒度与含沙量、流量间的复杂关系

本文以黄河中游若干支流为例,研究了宽变幅水沙两相流河流悬移质泥沙的粒度特征。结果表明,宽变幅水沙两相流河流的悬移质泥沙粒度特征与含沙量、流量之间具有复杂的关系。就同一站点而言,随着含沙量和流量的增大,大于0.05mm的粗颗粒泥沙的百分比迅速减小,并达到最小值;当含沙量和流量进一步增大时,其百分比又迅速增大,表现出明显的双值关系。对于小于0.01mm细泥沙而言,情形正好相反。黄河中游不同的支流之间,悬移质泥沙粒度特征与年均含沙量的关系也是复杂的。这些变化图形可以用非高含沙水流与高含沙水流不同的物理力学行为来解释     

舟曲“8.8”特大泥石流对建筑物的破坏方式

2010-08-07-08发生的甘肃舟曲特大泥石流造成了1 765人死亡和失踪,33幢面积共11.472 km2的建筑物被直接冲毁,有20幢面积约69 km2建筑被部分损坏.现场的调查表明,泥石流破坏建筑物主要有冲击、淤埋和摩擦三种方式.通过对8座破坏建筑物的具体分析,发现泥石流破坏建筑物有正向以撞击为主、侧向以淤埋和摩擦为主,沿流向呈现波浪式变化以及遮蔽效应等特点.根据泥石流的破坏方式、特点和建筑物类型,初步提出了我国山区居民住宅两种常见结构的泥石流破坏分级标准.最后提出了几条能有效减轻泥石流对建筑物破坏的具体措施,可供坐落于泥石流危险区的山区城镇借鉴.     

北川地震重灾区泥石流特征与减灾对策

汶川大地震的同震次生灾害以滑坡、崩塌居多,泥石流相对较少。但地震导致滑坡、崩塌为震后泥石流提供了极为丰富的物质来源,使得地震灾区在一年多的时间里已经多次暴发了大面积的泥石流。以北川地震重灾区的苏宝河和魏家沟流域为研究区域,通过野外实地考察、遥感图像分析、历史资料对比等方法,概括总结出受地震强烈影响区域的泥石流具有成因多样、时间同步、颗粒粗大、多灾种复合、空间近似对称和小沟大灾等特征。并提出了"面上监控为主、点上工程为主、分类防治和开展风险评估"的减灾对策。     

Formation and failure of volcanic debris dams in the Chakachatna River valley associated with eruptions of the Spurr volcanic complex, Alaska

The formation of lahars and a debris avalanche during Holocene eruptions of the Spurr volcanic complex in south-central Alaska have led to the development of volcanic debris dams in the Chakachatna River valley. Debris dams composed of lahar and debris-avalanche deposits formed at least five times in the last 8000–10,000 years and most recently during eruptions of Crater Peak vent in 1953 and 1992. Water impounded by a large debris avalanche of early Holocene (?) age may have destabilized an upstream glacier-dammed lake causing a catastrophic flood on the Chakachatna River. A large alluvial fan just downstream of the debris-avalanche deposit is strewn with boulders and blocks and is probably the deposit generated by this flood. Application of a physically based dam-break model yields estimates of peak discharge (Q_p) attained during failure of the debris-avalanche dam in the range 10⁴<Q_p<10⁶ m³ s⁻¹ for plausible breach erosion rates of 10–100 m h⁻¹. Smaller, short-lived, lahar dams that formed during historical eruptions in 1953, and 1992, impounded smaller lakes in the upper Chakachatna River valley and peak flows attained during failure of these volcanic debris dams were in the range 10³<Q_p<10⁴ m³ s⁻¹ for plausible breach erosion rates.Volcanic debris dams have formed at other volcanoes in the Cook Inlet region, Aleutian arc, and Wrangell Mountains but apparently did not fail rapidly or result in large or catastrophic outflows. Steep valley topography and frequent eruptions at volcanoes in this region make for significant hazards associated with the formation and failure of volcanic debris dams.     

北京山区泥石流的分类与类型

采用科学性、实用性和简明易行性的泥石流分类原则，制定出北京山区泥石流的分类指标，从7个方面对已判定出的705条泥石流进行分类。结果如下：1．按泥石流发育的地貌形态分类，有河谷型泥石流57条，沟谷型534条，山坡型114条(处)；2．按泥石流的暴发规模分类，有大规模泥石流51条，中等规模164条，小规模490条(处)；3．按泥石流的流体性质分类，有粘性泥石流136条，稀性泥石流30条，过渡性泥石流539条；4．按泥石流的发育阶段分类，有发展期泥石流296条，活跃期343条，衰退期66条；5．按泥石流的危害程度分类，有危害严重的泥石流117条，较严重的255条，中等的161条，轻微的172条；6．按泥石流的活动频率分类，有中频率的泥石流539条，低频率的166条；7．按泥石流形成与人类活动的关系分类，有人为泥石流36条，自然泥石流669条。     

黄土高原高含沙水流形成的自然地理因素

黄土高原半干旱的气候条件、稀疏的植被和疏松易蚀的黄土物质,是该地区高含沙水流形成的自然地理因素。这一地区高含沙水流的发育程度,特别是最大断面含沙量的大小表现出明显的地域差异,这种差异与悬移质泥沙的粒度组成有密切的关系。存在着某种特定的悬移质泥沙粒度组成,使得悬移质含沙量达到最大值。这种特定的泥沙粒度组成与流域中黄土、基岩及风成沙的分布有关,而它的出现,则是特殊的水力、风力交换作用的结果。     

Reconstructing spatio-temporal patterns of debris-flow activity using dendrogeomorphological methods

Debris flows are a major threat in many parts of the Alps, where they repeatedly cause severe damage to infrastructure and transportation corridors or even loss of life. Nonetheless, the spatial behavior of past debris-flow activity and the analysis of areas affected during particular events have been widely neglected in reconstructions so far. It was therefore the purpose of this study to reconstruct spatio-temporal patterns of past debris flows on a forested cone in the Swiss Alps (Bruchji torrent, Blatten, Valais). The analysis of past events was based on a detailed geomorphic map (1:1000) of all forms related to debris flows as well as on tree-ring series from 401 heavily affected trees (Larix decidua Mill. and Picea abies (L.) Karst.) growing in or next to deposits. The samples were analyzed and growth disturbances related to debris-flow activity assessed, such as tangential rows of traumatic resin ducts, the onset of reaction wood or abrupt growth suppression or release.In total, 960 growth disturbances were identified in the samples, belonging to 40 different event years between A.D. 1867 and 2005. In addition, the coupling of tree-ring data with the geomorphic map allowed reconstruction of eleven formerly active channels and spatial representation of individual events. Based on our results we believe that before 1935, debris flows preferentially used those channels located in the western part of the cone, whereas the eastern part of the cone remained widely unaffected. The spatial representation of the 40 events also allowed identification of five different spatial patterns for debris flows at the study site.     

Mud aprons in front of Svalbard surge moraines: Evidence of subglacial deforming layers or proglacial glaciotectonics?

Large debris-flow units commonly occur on the distal sides of subaqueous end moraines deposited by surges of Svalbard tidewater glaciers, but have rarely been described in terrestrial settings. Some researchers have argued that these kinds of debris flows reflect processes unique to the subaqueous environment, such as the extrusion of subglacial deforming layers or extensive failure of oversteepened moraine fronts. In this paper, we describe terrestrial and subaqueous parts of a single late Holocene moraine system deposited by a major surge of the tidewater glacier Paulabreen in west Spitsbergen. The ice-marginal landforms on land closely resemble the corresponding landforms on the seabed as evidenced by geomorphic mapping and geophysical profiles from both environments. Both onland and offshore, extensive areas of hummocky moraine occur on the proximal side of the maximum glacier position, and large mud aprons (interpreted as debris flows) occur on the distal side. We show that the debris-flow sediments were pushed in front of the advancing glacier as a continuously failing, mobile push moraine. We propose that the mud aprons are end members of a proglacial landforms continuum that has thrust-block moraines as the opposite end member. Two clusters of dates (~ 8000 YBP and ~ 700 YBP) have previously been interpreted to indicate two separate surges responsible for the moraine formation. New dates suggest that the early cluster indicates a local extinction of the abounded species Chlamys islandica. Other changes corresponding to the widespread 8.2 ka event within the fjord, may suggest that the extinction of the C. islandica corresponds to that time.     

从蒋家沟泥石流阵流看泥石流堆积

野外观测和实验证明，泥石流的堆积是经过无数随机的“元堆积”叠加形成的。“元堆积”保留了泥石流的活动特征。根据云南东川蒋家沟泥石流阵流资料和阵流的数值模拟，发现堆积厚度与阵流的深度和速度，在统计上是一致的，说明了堆积与运动之间的系统性联系。这种联系为泥石流活动的系统性和泥石流灾害的评估提供了新的线索。     

植物与岩土措施相结合的泥石流治理工程(英文)

我国山区特殊的地形、地质及气候条件造成泥石流灾害频繁发生,严重危害居民生命财产安全并限制山区经济社会可持续发展。国内外泥石流防治研究取得显著成效,但还需要研究如何合理搭配治理措施以满足泥石流防治的需求。本文简要介绍我国泥石流防治技术,主要内容有综合防治技术体系、植物工程措施、岩土工程措施、以及植物工程措施与岩土工程措施的有机结合。探讨了以主河输沙能力为控制条件,以地理条件和微地形因子为植物种类选择依据,坡面治理与沟道拦蓄配合,形成"坡面——沟道——小流域"的多级径流和固体物质调控体系。为了做好泥石流防治工作,今后应该加强植物措施治理泥石流的机理研究,评价植物措施的功能并编制设计技术规范,完善植物工程措施与岩土工程措施结合的综合治理体系。     

水沙条件对黄河下游河道输沙功能的影响

提出河道输沙功能指标F_s为进入某一河道的泥沙总量(干流与支流输入沙量之和)与输出这一河道的泥沙量之比。河道输沙功能与来水量和来沙量有密切关系,若来水减少,来沙增多,则河道输沙功能减弱。来沙中大于0.05 mm粗泥沙含量百分比与河道输沙功能指标成负相关。来沙系数、特别是粗泥沙的来沙系数,是决定黄河下游输沙功能的重要因子;来沙系数越大,则河道输沙功能指标越低。场次洪水的输沙功能指标随场次洪水最大含沙量的增大而降低,历年河道输沙功能指标随各年中高含沙水流频率的增高而降低。小浪底水库修建后,为我们通过调水调沙提高河道输沙功能提供可能。研究表明,场次洪水平均含沙量35 kg/m³,或场次洪水平均来沙系数为(0.015 kg·s)/m⁶,是在调水调沙中实现河道输沙功能优化的最优含沙量和最优来沙系数,平滩流量则是实现河道输沙功能最大化的最优流量级。