Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864
The triggering of debris flows depends on a critical combination of available unconsolidated material and water supply. In periglacial environments, debris flows are generally triggered by liquefaction of loose material in a channel, or by progressive erosion during a large release of water. Here, w...
Published in: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface |
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ftunivgeneve:oai:unige.ch:unige:121727 2023-05-15T17:58:03+02:00 Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864 Schneuwly-Bollschweiler, Michelle Stoffel, Markus 2012 https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:121727 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1029/2011JF002262 unige:121727 https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:121727 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess ISSN: 2169-9003 Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, Vol. 117, No F2033 (2012) info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/333.7-333.9 Debris flow Frequency Permafrost Rainfall Temperature Tree ring Text info:eu-repo/semantics/article Article scientifique info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2012 ftunivgeneve https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002262 2022-02-08T22:29:45Z The triggering of debris flows depends on a critical combination of available unconsolidated material and water supply. In periglacial environments, debris flows are generally triggered by liquefaction of loose material in a channel, or by progressive erosion during a large release of water. Here, we link an unusually dense and highly resolved database on periglacial debris flows with meteorological records dating back to AD 1864 to reconstruct ∼150 yr of rainstorms that triggered debris flows at high‐elevation sites (source area elevations ranging from 2000 to 4545 m a.s.l.) in the Swiss Alps. Analysis is based on a tree ring‐derived frequency series of debris flows from eight torrents, as well as on daily records from three meteorological stations and runoff data from four river gauging stations. Results show that the debris‐flow season at these high‐altitude sites now is much longer (May to October) than it used to be in the late nineteenth century when activity was limited to June–September. Debris flows early in the season are generally triggered by lower rainstorm totals (<20 mm/day) than those occurring later in the season because early season snowmelt adds considerable amounts of water to the system and therefore facilitates debris‐flow formation. Debris flows in May, June, July, and August are triggered primarily by short‐duration high‐intensity rainstorms (local thunderstorms) whereas late season (September, October) debris flows are commonly related to longer‐lasting advective rainstorms. Article in Journal/Newspaper permafrost Université de Genève: Archive ouverte UNIGE Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 117 F2 n/a n/a |
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Open Polar |
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Université de Genève: Archive ouverte UNIGE |
op_collection_id |
ftunivgeneve |
language |
English |
topic |
info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/333.7-333.9 Debris flow Frequency Permafrost Rainfall Temperature Tree ring |
spellingShingle |
info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/333.7-333.9 Debris flow Frequency Permafrost Rainfall Temperature Tree ring Schneuwly-Bollschweiler, Michelle Stoffel, Markus Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864 |
topic_facet |
info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/333.7-333.9 Debris flow Frequency Permafrost Rainfall Temperature Tree ring |
description |
The triggering of debris flows depends on a critical combination of available unconsolidated material and water supply. In periglacial environments, debris flows are generally triggered by liquefaction of loose material in a channel, or by progressive erosion during a large release of water. Here, we link an unusually dense and highly resolved database on periglacial debris flows with meteorological records dating back to AD 1864 to reconstruct ∼150 yr of rainstorms that triggered debris flows at high‐elevation sites (source area elevations ranging from 2000 to 4545 m a.s.l.) in the Swiss Alps. Analysis is based on a tree ring‐derived frequency series of debris flows from eight torrents, as well as on daily records from three meteorological stations and runoff data from four river gauging stations. Results show that the debris‐flow season at these high‐altitude sites now is much longer (May to October) than it used to be in the late nineteenth century when activity was limited to June–September. Debris flows early in the season are generally triggered by lower rainstorm totals (<20 mm/day) than those occurring later in the season because early season snowmelt adds considerable amounts of water to the system and therefore facilitates debris‐flow formation. Debris flows in May, June, July, and August are triggered primarily by short‐duration high‐intensity rainstorms (local thunderstorms) whereas late season (September, October) debris flows are commonly related to longer‐lasting advective rainstorms. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Schneuwly-Bollschweiler, Michelle Stoffel, Markus |
author_facet |
Schneuwly-Bollschweiler, Michelle Stoffel, Markus |
author_sort |
Schneuwly-Bollschweiler, Michelle |
title |
Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864 |
title_short |
Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864 |
title_full |
Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864 |
title_fullStr |
Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the Zermatt valley (Switzerland) since 1864 |
title_sort |
hydrometeorological triggers of periglacial debris flows in the zermatt valley (switzerland) since 1864 |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:121727 |
genre |
permafrost |
genre_facet |
permafrost |
op_source |
ISSN: 2169-9003 Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, Vol. 117, No F2033 (2012) |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1029/2011JF002262 unige:121727 https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:121727 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002262 |
container_title |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface |
container_volume |
117 |
container_issue |
F2 |
container_start_page |
n/a |
op_container_end_page |
n/a |
_version_ |
1766166577959403520 |