Variability in the characteristics of extreme rainfall events triggering debris flows: a case study in the Chenyulan watershed, Taiwan

Abstract

This work examines the period affected by extreme rainfall that triggers debris flow and the modification of the critical rainfall threshold for debris flows after extreme events in the Chenyulan watershed in central Taiwan. Three rainfall indices, Im (maximum hourly rainfall depth), Rd (maximum 24-h rainfall amount), and RI (= Im × Rd), were used to analyze the variations in rainfall thresholds for triggering debris flow. Five extreme rainfall events with RI > 365 cm2/h that triggered multiple debris flows are discussed. Critical rainfall (the rainfall threshold of Im, Rd, and RI for triggering debris flow) drops significantly at the initial stage after an extreme rainfall event; it then increases to revert to its original value after subsequent rainfall events. The lowered critical rainfall and the required recovery period were associated with the RI driven by an extreme rainfall event. Empirical relationships for modified critical rainfall and recovery period after an extreme rainfall event are also presented. The critical RI and Im (or Rd) could be reduced by 70% and 40%, respectively. The maximum recovery period was approximately three years after an extreme rainfall. The recovery period has an increasing trend with the increasing ratio of landslide area bought by an extreme rainfall.