Debris flow research in Russia and the Former Soviet Union: history and perspectives

Abstract

Studies of debris flows in the Russian Empire started in the 1860s. At that time first expeditions were organized to study the origins of ice-rock collapses that were blocking the trans-Caucasian road. In 1859 Boleslav Statkowsky introduced a scientific term sel (debris flow), an Arabic word which was in circulation among Turkic nations of the Caucasus. Later debris flows were studied in the Caucasus, in the Carpathians, in the mountains of Central Asia and Siberia, in Kamchatka Peninsula and other regions. A particularly active period started in the second half of 20th century. Debris flow conferences were organised by experts from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (24 conferences in 1949-1982). The late 1950s late 1980s were “the golden thirty years” of the Soviet debris flow science. A strong school of debris flow experts worked in geological ministries, planning and design institutes, universities and hydrometeorological service. A Debris Flow Commission was established for co-ordination of all activities. Following a number of disastrous debris flows, manuals for researching and monitoring debris flows were written. Various constructions for debris flow protection were built. The collapse of the USSR (1991) has divided the debris flow community by the new state boundaries. The economic crisis of the 1990s and the abrupt reduction of funding hit the debris flow science hard. Large debris flow disasters of the early 21st century in the Caucasus have attracted attention to this field once again. Three conferences have been organised. In 2005, the Debris Flow Association (DFA) was established in Russia as a professional society of experts (DFA website: http://www.rsk.land.ru/index_eng.htm). It has been now joined by members from other countries. A debris flow bibliography for 1968-2005 is being prepared for publication. The DFA plans to organise an international debris flow conference in Russia in 2008.