Semi-quantitative method for the assessment of debris supply from slopes to river in ungauged catchments

Abstract

This paper presents an integrated empirical methodology for assessing the amount of sediment transported from slopes to the main river in absence of a sediment transport monitoring system. The amount of transported sediment is calculated through the characterization of the sediment source areas including the identification of the slope phenomena responsible for the sediment propagation to the main river: shallow landslides, channelized debris flows and deep-seated rotational slides. On this basis, several scenarios related to the climatic conditions are defined: they indicate the number of possible slope phenomena and potential volumes of mobilized unconsolidated material from sediment source areas to the main river. This methodology was finalized and tested in the Maira River basin (south-western Italian Alps) with quite good results.

Keywords: Debris flow; Landslide; Sediment cascade; Sediment source area; Western Italian Alps.