Debris flows in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains, Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic

Marek Křížek,David Krause,Tereza Raschová

doi:10.1080/17445647.2018.1486241

Abstract

ABSTRACTDebris flows in mountainous areas have a deep geomorphic impact on slope dynamics. Their activity corresponds with heavy rainfall events. The estimation of these events depends not only on meteorological prediction but also on the knowledge of their spatial occurrence. As debris flows usually occur in the same paths with different frequencies during the Quaternary period, spatial data are needed to obtain more detailed information about debris flow phenomena. This was the reason for the creation of the presented map of debris flow features in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. A total of 95 debris flow paths and 47 debris flow accumulations (including lobes or levees) have been mapped in the field. A comprehensive spatial database of debris flow features is shown in the map, which could be helpful for future research of Quaternary geomorphic evolution of the landscape and for forest management and state administrative authorities in future planning.

Highlights

Very or extremely rapid slope movements of watersaturated debris occur periodically in established debris flow paths (Hungr, Leroueil, & Picarelli, 2014)
Debris flows in mountainous areas have a deep geomorphic impact on slope dynamics
This was the reason for the creation of the presented map of debris flow features in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts

Summary

Introduction

Very or extremely rapid slope movements of watersaturated debris occur periodically in established debris flow paths (Hungr, Leroueil, & Picarelli, 2014). Debris flows cause forest and infrastructure destruction, and they endanger human lives (Costa, 1984); on the other hand, together with avalanches, they can have a positive ecological impact in some areas (Butler, 2001), and they can be the study subjects of palaeogeographical and palaeoclimatological reconstructions of landscape history (Stoffel et al, 2005). In these cases, cumulative studies have been conducted and maps of debris flow areas produced in many countries such as the USA, China and Russia As the occurrence of debris flows is still a problem in forest management and risk prevention at the present time, the spatial distribution of debris flow paths needs to be examined, yet there has been no cumulative study or map produced constraining these problems

Data collection

Map creation

Findings

Conclusions