Forecasting and Seismic Detection of Proglacial Debris Flows at Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-72
Author(s):  
Scott R. Beason ◽  
Nicholas T. Legg ◽  
Taylor R. Kenyon ◽  
Robert P. Jost
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
National Park ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Outburst Floods ◽  
Mount Rainier ◽  
Mount Rainier National Park ◽  
High Precipitation ◽  
Flow Activity

ABSTRACT The glaciated Mount Rainier volcano in southwestern Washington State (United States) has a rich history of outburst floods and debris flows that have adversely impacted infrastructure at Mount Rainier National Park in the 20th and 21st centuries. Retreating glaciers leave behind vast amounts of unconsolidated till that is easily mobilized during high-precipitation-intensity storms in the fall months, and during outburst floods during warm summer months. Over 60 debris flows and outburst floods have been documented between 1926 and 2019 at Mount Rainier. Debris-flow activity has led to the closure of campgrounds and visitor destinations, which has limited visitor access to large swaths of the park. This paper documents efforts to characterize and seismically monitor debris flows, map hazards, and develop forecasting approaches for wet and dry weather debris flows. Using the day-of and historic antecedent weather conditions on past debris-flow days, we developed a debris-flow hazard model to help predict those days with a higher relative hazard for debris-flow activity park-wide based on prevailing and forecasted weather conditions. Debris flows are detected in near-real-time using the U.S. Geological Survey Real-time Seismic Amplitude Measurement (RSAM) tool. If an event is detected, we can then provide evacuation alerts to employees and visitors working and recreating in the areas downstream. Our goal is to accurately forecast the debris-flow hazards up to 7 days ahead of time and then use RSAM to detect debris flows within minutes of their genesis.

scholarly journals Debris-flow activity in five adjacent gullies in a limestone mountain range

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Schraml ◽  
Markus Oismüller ◽  
Markus Stoffel ◽  
Johannes Hübl ◽  
Roland Kaitna
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
National Park ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Sediment Sources ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Flow Activity ◽  
Local Variability

Abstract Debris-flows are infrequent geomorphic phenomena that shape steep valleys and can repre-sent a severe hazard for human settlements and infrastructure. In this study, a debris-flow event chro-nology has been derived at the regional scale within the Gesäuse National Park (Styria, Austria) using dendrogeomorphic techniques. Sediment sources and deposition areas were mapped by combined field investigation and aerial photography using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Through the analysis of 384 trees, a total of 47 debris-flows occurring in 19 years between AD 1903 and 2008 were identified in five adjacent gullies. Our results highlight the local variability of debris-flow activi-ty as a result of local thunderstorms and the variable availability of sediment sources.

The Debris Flow Disaster Faster-Than-Early Forecast System (DFS) with Multi-Sensors Integrated Wireless Sensor Networks

2013 ◽  
Vol 347-350 ◽  
pp. 975-979
Author(s):  
Rong Zhao ◽  
Cai Hong Li ◽  
Yun Jian Tan ◽  
Jun Shi ◽  
Fu Qiang Mu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wireless Sensor Networks ◽  
Sensor Networks ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Base Station ◽  
Base Stations ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Forecast System ◽  
Debris Flow Disaster

This paper presents a Debris Flow Disaster Faster-than-early Forecast System (DFS) with wireless sensor networks. Debris flows carrying saturated solid materials in water flowing downslope often cause severe damage to the lives and properties in their path. Faster-than-early or faster-than-real-time forecasts are imperative to save lives and reduce damage. This paper presents a novel multi-sensor networks for monitoring debris flows. The main idea is to let these sensors drift with the debris flow, to collect flow information as they move along, and to transmit the collected data to base stations in real time. The Raw data are sent to the cloud processing center from the base station. And the processed data and the video of the debris flow are display on the remote PC. The design of the system address many challenging issues, including cost, deployment efforts, and fast reaction.

scholarly journals Debris-flow activity in abandoned channels of the Manival torrent reconstructed with LiDAR and tree-ring data

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1247-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lopez Saez ◽  
C. Corona ◽  
M. Stoffel ◽  
A. Gotteland ◽  
F. Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Alluvial Fan ◽  
Tree Ring Data ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Flow Activity ◽  
Abandoned Channels

Abstract. Hydrogeomorphic processes are a major threat in many parts of the Alps, where they periodically damage infrastructure, disrupt transportation corridors or even cause loss of life. Nonetheless, past torrential activity and the analysis of areas affected during particular events remain often imprecise. It was therefore the purpose of this study to reconstruct spatio-temporal patterns of past debris-flow activity in abandoned channels on the forested cone of the Manival torrent (Massif de la Chartreuse, French Prealps). A Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) generated Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to identify five abandoned channels and related depositional forms (lobes, lateral levees) in the proximal alluvial fan of the torrent. A total of 156 Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) with clear signs of debris flow events was analyzed and growth disturbances (GD) assessed, such as callus tissue, the onset of compression wood or abrupt growth suppression. In total, 375 GD were identified in the tree-ring samples, pointing to 13 debris-flow events for the period 1931–2008. While debris flows appear to be very common at Manival, they have only rarely propagated outside the main channel over the past 80 years. Furthermore, analysis of the spatial distribution of disturbed trees contributed to the identification of four patterns of debris-flow routing and led to the determination of three preferential breakout locations. Finally, the results of this study demonstrate that the temporal distribution of debris flows did not exhibit significant variations since the beginning of the 20th century.

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