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A study on the forecast calculating method of the density of rainfall debris flow in Southwestern of China

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Abstract

Density is the most important parameter of debris flow. This work looks into the typical debris flow and mountain torrent occurred in Longmen Mountains in the past 20 years and compares the calculation results of the density using various methods. It shows that the mean deviations of result are in the range of 20–30%, and the static model is only suitable to the occurred debris flow event but not the forecast. Based on the analysis of typical rainfall debris flow, the influence factors of density are revealed; it shows that the density is controlled by the form conditions and the soil-water coupling process of debris flow. A function is introduced to describe the activity of material source, which defined by volume and relative elevation of materials, and the watershed area. The forecast model is established by the relationship between the density and its influence factors. When the new method is applied to the Longmen mountain area and the upper basin of the Minjiang River, although there are still few discretization errors, the results still can explain nearly 95% of the evolution trend, which shows that the new method is not compromised by regional differences.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express sincere thanks to the Dongchuan Debris Flow Observation and Research Station, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences for supporting this research.

Funding

This study was supported by the Key Science and Technology Support Research Project of Department of National Resource of Sichuan Province (KJ-2018-24); Geological Survey of Urban Hazard of Changdu Area, East Tibet (DD20190644); Supported Geological Investigation of Sichuan-Tibet Railway Planning and Construction (20190505); Environmental Geological Investigation at Fujiang River Basin in 1:50000 scale (DD20160251); Major Debris Flows Hazard Investigation and Mitigation of Southwest Mountains Area (12120113011000).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Exploration Technology, CAGS, Chengdu, 611734, China

    Hai Huang, Shun Yang, JianKang Liu, DongXu Yang & You Tian

  2. Technical Center for Geological Hazard Prevention and Control, CGS, Chengdu, 611734, China

    Hai Huang, Shun Yang, JianKang Liu, DongXu Yang & You Tian

Authors
  1. Hai Huang
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  2. Shun Yang
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  3. JianKang Liu
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  4. DongXu Yang
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  5. You Tian
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Correspondence to Hai Huang.

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Responsible Editor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

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Huang, H., Yang, S., Liu, J. et al. A study on the forecast calculating method of the density of rainfall debris flow in Southwestern of China. Arab J Geosci 13, 735 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05742-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05742-8

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