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Quantitative basin characterisation to refine debris-flow triggering criteria and processes: an example from the Italian Western Alps

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Abstract

This paper investigates rapid channelized debris flow related to rainfalls in small alpine basins. Its goal is to evaluate and correlate different geological and technical aspects with predisposing and triggering factors that can control these phenomena. The study area is the upper part of the Susa Valley where 12 small basins were selected. For each of them, lithological, geomorphological, climatic and technical information were mapped and analysed. Debris-flow triggering conditions, flow and depositional processes were related to physical characteristics of the basin that can be easily measured and quantified. At least three different groups of basins were found: G1) basins with one event each 4–6 years, characterised by massive or blocky calcareous rocks, G2) basins with more than one event per year that show an abundance of layered or sheared fine-grained rocks and G3) basins with recurrence levels exceeding 10 years, activated only by heavy and prolonged rainfalls, marked by massive or blocky coarse-grained igneous rocks. Furthermore, important morphometric differences were found. These considerations are useful in terms of hazard zonation and risk mitigation.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Andrea Moscariello for suggestions on methods, to Roberto Cremonini for his indispensable contribution to weather radar data processing and to Davide Rabuffetti for suggestion on hydrological analysis. Davide Tiranti was responsible for geological-sedimentological observations and climatic studies; Sabrina Bonetto took care of laboratory analysis and statistical processing; Giuseppe Mandrone of geotechnical and geomechanical considerations, of the supervising and of the final editing of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Area previsione e monitoraggio ambientale, ARPA Piemonte, Via Pio VII, 9-10100 Torino, Turin, Italy

    Davide Tiranti

  2. Dip. di Scienze della Terra, Università di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35-10125, Turin, Italy

    Sabrina Bonetto & Giuseppe Mandrone

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  1. Davide Tiranti
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  2. Sabrina Bonetto
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  3. Giuseppe Mandrone
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Mandrone.

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Tiranti, D., Bonetto, S. & Mandrone, G. Quantitative basin characterisation to refine debris-flow triggering criteria and processes: an example from the Italian Western Alps. Landslides 5, 45–57 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-007-0101-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-007-0101-4

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