Geologic Publications for Mount Rainier
Recent debris flow occurrences associated with glaciers in the Alps
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Author(s):
Marta Chiarle,
Sara Iannotti,
Giovanni Mortara,
Philip Deline
Category: PUBLICATION
Document Type:
Publisher: Global and Planetary Change
Published Year: 2007
Volume: 56
Number:
Pages: 123 to 136
DOI Identifier:
ISBN Identifier:
Keywords: debris flow glacial outburst floods climate change European Alps
Abstract:
Debris flows from glacier forefields, triggered by heavy rain or glacial outbursts, or damming of streams by ice avalanches, pose hazards in Alpine valleys (e.g. the south side of Mount Blanc). Glacier‐related debris flows are, in part, a consequence of general glacier retreat and the corresponding exposure of large quantities of unconsolidated, unvegetated, and sometimes ice‐cored glacial sediments. This paper documents glacier‐related debris flows at 17 sites in the Italian, French, and Swiss Alps, with a focus on the Italian northwest sector. For each case data are provided which describe the glacier and the instability. Three types of events have been recognized, based on antecedent meteorological conditions. Type 1 (9 documented debris flows) is triggered by intense and prolonged rainfall, causing water saturation of sediments and consequent failure of large sediment volumes (up to 800000 m
3). Type 2 (2 debris flows) is triggered by short rainstorms which may destabilize the glacier drainage system, with debris flow volumes up to 100000 m
3. Type 3 (6 debris flows) occurs during dry weather by glacial lake outbursts or ground/buried ice melting, with debris flow volumes up to 150000 m
3. A data base of historic cases is needed in order to advance process understanding and modelling, and thus improve hazard assessment.
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Suggested Citations:
In Text Citation:
Chiarle and others (2007) or (Chiarle et al., 2007)
References Citation:
Chiarle, M., S. Iannotti, G. Mortara, and P. Deline, 2007, Recent debris flow occurrences associated with glaciers in the Alps: Global and Planetary Change, Vol. 56, pp. 123-136.