Characterization of a landslide-triggered debris flow at a rainforest-covered mountain region in Brazil

Victor Carvalho Cabral (), Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira Reis, Fernando Mazo D’Affonseca, Ana Lucía, Claudia Vanessa Corrêa, Vinicius Veloso, Marcelo Fischer Gramani, Agostinho Tadashi Ogura, Andrea Fregolente Lazaretti, Felipe Vemado, Augusto José Pereira Filho, Claudia Cristina Santos, Eymar Silva Sampaio Lopes, Lis Maria Reoni Rabaco, Lucilia Giordano and Christiane Zarfl
Additional contact information
Victor Carvalho Cabral: São Paulo State University – UNESP
Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira Reis: São Paulo State University – UNESP
Fernando Mazo D’Affonseca: University of Tübingen
Ana Lucía: University of Tübingen
Claudia Vanessa Corrêa: São Paulo State University – UNESP
Vinicius Veloso: São Paulo State University – UNESP
Marcelo Fischer Gramani: Institute for Technological Research – IPT
Agostinho Tadashi Ogura: Institute for Technological Research – IPT
Andrea Fregolente Lazaretti: Brazilian Geological Service – CPRM
Felipe Vemado: University of São Paulo – USP
Augusto José Pereira Filho: University of São Paulo – USP
Claudia Cristina Santos: National Institute for Space Research – INPE
Eymar Silva Sampaio Lopes: National Institute for Space Research – INPE
Lis Maria Reoni Rabaco: Centro de Pesquisas e Desenvolvimento – CENPES
Lucilia Giordano: São Paulo State University – UNESP
Christiane Zarfl: University of Tübingen

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2021, vol. 108, issue 3, No 29, 3043 pages

Abstract: Abstract Debris flows represent great hazard to humans due to their high destructive power. Understanding their hydrogeomorphic dynamics is fundamental in hazard assessment studies, especially in subtropical and tropical regions where debris flows have scarcely been studied when compared to other mass-wasting processes. Thus, this study aims at systematically analyzing the meteorological and geomorphological factors that characterize a landslide-triggered debris flow at the Pedra Branca catchment (Serra do Mar, Brazil), to quantify the debris flow’s magnitude, peak discharge and velocity. A magnitude comparison with empirical equations (Italian Alps, Taiwan, Serra do Mar) is also conducted. The meteorological analysis is based on satellite data and rain gauge measurements, while the geomorphological characterization is based on terrestrial and aerial investigations, with high spatial resolution. The results indicate that it was a large-sized stony debris flow, with a total magnitude of 120,195 m3, a peak discharge of 2146.7 m3 s−1 and a peak velocity of 26.5 m s−1. The debris flow was triggered by a 188-mm rainfall in 3 h (maximum intensity of 128 mm h−1), with an estimated return period of 15 to 20 years, which, combined with the intense accumulation of on-channel debris (ca. 37,000 m3), indicates that new high-magnitude debris flows in the catchment and the region are likely to occur within the next two decades. The knowledge of the potential frequency and magnitude (F–M) can support the creation of F–M relationships for Serra do Mar, a prerequisite for reliable hazard management and monitoring programs.

Keywords: Shallow landslides; Magnitude; Serra do Mar; Forensic geomorphological analysis; Mass movements; Bedrock rivers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-021-04811-9

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