Statistical Modelling of Sediment Supply in Torrent Catchments of the Northern French Alps

Abstract

The ability to understand and predict sediment transport in torrent catchments is a key element for the protection and prevention against the associated hazards. In this study, we collected data describing sediment supply at 100 torrential catchments in the Northern French Alps. These catchments have long records of past events and sediment supply due to debris deposition basin management enabling estimation of sediment supply frequency. The mean annual, the 10-year return period and the reference volume (i.e. the 100-year return level or the largest observed volume) of sediment supply were derived for studied torrents. We examined the relationships between sediment supply volumes and several explanatory variables using multivariate statistical analyses. Several predictive models were developed in order to estimate the sediment supply in torrents that are not equipped with sedimentation structures.