Geomorphic impacts of large and rapid mass movements: a review

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 4764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Fort ◽  
Etienne Cossart ◽  
Philip Deline ◽  
Marc Dzikowski ◽  
Gérard Nicoud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Movements ◽  
Rapid Mass

Hillslope Form and Process: History 1960− 2000+

2021 ◽  
pp. M58-2021-8
Author(s):  
Mike Kirkby
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Tectonic Activity ◽  
Significant Advance ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Solution Processes ◽  
Process Understanding ◽  
Rapid Mass

AbstractThe study of hillslopes has been dominated by the expansion of studies into process rates and mechanisms. Perhaps the greatest volume of work has been on the ‘wash’ processes of soil erosion, but there has also been significant work on the diffusive mass movements of linear and non-linear ‘creep’ that shape the convexity of hilltops, on more rapid mass movements and on solution processes. There has also been fresh work on distinctive processes in coastal, arid and cold-climate environments.Accompanying and integrated with process understanding, and made possible by ubiquitous computational power, modelling has developed from soluble mathematical simplifications to complex simulations that incorporate much of our understanding of process and climate.Particular topics that have seen significant advance include a more complete understanding of drainage density and texture, and a broadening of interest to encompass the ‘critical zone’ that constructively unifies the land surface with the lower atmosphere, the biosphere and the regolith. There has also been a change of focus towards steeplands, dominated by mass movements, supply limited removal and tectonic activity.Most recently, and now incorporated into the concept of the ‘Anthropocene’, human impact is now receiving increasing attention as we acknowledge its accelerating role in changing landscapes and their relationships.

scholarly journals Brief Communication: Initializing RAMMS with High Resolution LiDAR Data for Avalanche Simulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Dillon ◽  
Kevin Hammonds
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Lidar Data ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Flow Volume ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Avalanche Forecasting ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Rapid Mass

Abstract. The Rapid Mass Movements Simulator (RAMMS) is an avalanche dynamics software tool for research and forecasting. Since the model’s conception, the sensitivity of inputs on simulation results has been well-documented. Here, we introduce a new method for initializing RAMMS that can be easily operationalized for avalanche forecasting using high resolution LiDAR data. As a demonstration, hypothetical avalanche simulations were performed while incrementally incorporating semi-automated LiDAR-derived values for snow depth, interface topography, and vegetative cover from field-collected LiDAR data. Results show considerable variation in the calculated runout extent, flow volume, pressure, and velocity of the simulated avalanches when incorporating these LiDAR-derived values.

scholarly journals Monitoring and prediction in Early Warning Systems (EWS) for rapid mass movements

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (11) ◽  
pp. 7149-7179 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Stähli ◽  
M. Sättele ◽  
C. Huggel ◽  
B. W. McArdell ◽  
P. Lehmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
The Past ◽  
Substantial Risk ◽  
State Of Practice ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Rapid Mass ◽  
Efficient Measures

Abstract. Rapid mass movements (RMM) pose a substantial risk to people and infrastructure. Reliable and cost-efficient measures have to be taken to reduce this risk. One of these measures includes establishing and advancing the State of Practice in the application of Early Warning Systems (EWS). EWS have been developed during the past decades and are rapidly increasing. In this document, we focus on the technical part of EWS, i.e. the prediction and timely recognition of imminent hazards, as well as on monitoring slopes at risk and released mass movements. Recent innovations in assessing spatial precipitation, as well as monitoring and modelling precursors, the triggering and deformation of RMM offer new opportunities for next-generation EWS. However, technical advancement can only be transferred into more reliable, operational EWS with an intense dialog between scientists, engineers and those in charge of warning. To this end, further experience with new comprehensive prototype systems jointly operated by scientists and practitioners will be essential.

scholarly journals Monitoring and prediction in early warning systems for rapid mass movements

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 905-917 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Stähli ◽  
M. Sättele ◽  
C. Huggel ◽  
B. W. McArdell ◽  
P. Lehmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
The Past ◽  
Substantial Risk ◽  
State Of Practice ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Rapid Mass ◽  
Efficient Measures

Abstract. Rapid mass movements (RMM) pose a substantial risk to people and infrastructure. Reliable and cost-efficient measures have to be taken to reduce this risk. One of these measures includes establishing and advancing the state of practice in the application of early warning systems (EWSs). EWSs have been developed during the past decades and are rapidly increasing. In this paper, we focus on the technical part of EWSs, i.e., the prediction and timely recognition of imminent hazards, as well as on monitoring slopes at risk and released mass movements. Recent innovations in assessing spatial precipitation, monitoring and precursors of the triggering and deformation of RMM offer new opportunities for next-generation EWSs. However, technical advancement can only be transferred into more reliable, operational EWSs with an adequate well-instructed dedicated staff. To this end, an intense dialog between scientists, engineers and those in charge of warning, as well as further experience with new comprehensive prototype systems jointly operated by scientists and practitioners, will be essential.

Rapid Mass Movements in Different Climates: An Introduction

1976 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Rapp ◽  
Lennart Strömquist ◽  
Lennart Stromquist
Keyword(s):  
Mass Movements ◽  
Rapid Mass ◽  
Different Climates

Terrestrial record of rapid mass movements in the Sawtooth Range, Ellesmere Island, Northwest Territories, Canada

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoni G Lewkowicz ◽  
James Hartshorn
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Mountain Front ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Ice Wedge ◽  
Recurrence Intervals ◽  
Rapid Mass ◽  
Lichen Growth

Widespread clastic deposits, 80-1800 m long, on the eastern side of the Sawtooth Range are the result of debris flow and slushflow. Small hillslope debris flows (10-103 m3), originating on talus slopes at the mountain front and not associated with preexisting gullies, and large channelized debris flows (103-104 m3), debouching from basins within the mountains, are comparable morphologically to those in other high-latitude and high-altitude environments. Channelized deposits are often modified by the effects of slushflow and fluvial activity. Provisional lichen growth curves for the area were produced by correlation of thallus size with the enlargement of ice-wedge polygon troughs. Lichenometry and aerial photograph interpretation were used to estimate the age of deposits so that event frequencies and rates of geomorphic work could be calculated. Vertical transport by rapid mass movements during the 20th Century averaged 17 x 103 Mg ·m ·a-1 ·km-2 ( ± half an order of magnitude), corresponding to a rock denudation rate of 0.05 mm ·a-1 for the basins and peaks feeding the east-facing slopes. Channelized debris flow produced more than 70% of this transport. Several of these large flows occurred in each of the three periods of 30-35 years examined, so their recurrence intervals are substantially shorter than values reported from locations in northern Scandinavia and Spitzbergen.

scholarly journals Modeling rapid mass movements using the shallow water equations

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (11) ◽  
pp. 6775-6809
Author(s):  
S. Hergarten ◽  
J. Robl
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Shallow Water Equations ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Mathematical Formulation ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Flow Solver ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Correction Terms ◽  
Rapid Mass

Abstract. We propose a new method to model rapid mass movements on complex topography using the shallow water equations in Cartesian coordinates. These equations are the widely used standard approximation for the flow of water in rivers and shallow lakes, but the main prerequisite for their application – an almost horizontal fluid table – is in general not satisfied for avalanches and debris flows in steep terrain. Therefore, we have developed appropriate correction terms for large topographic gradients. In this study we present the mathematical formulation of these correction terms and their implementation in the open source flow solver GERRIS. This novel approach is evaluated by simulating avalanches on synthetic and finally natural topographies and the widely used Voellmy flow resistance law. The results are tested against analytical solutions and the commercial avalanche model RAMMS. The overall results are in excellent agreement with the reference system RAMMS, and the deviations between the different models are far below the uncertainties in the determination of the relevant fluid parameters and involved avalanche volumes in reality. As this code is freely available and open source, it can be easily extended by additional fluid models or source areas, making this model suitable for simulating several types of rapid mass movements. It therefore provides a valuable tool assisting regional scale natural hazard studies.

scholarly journals Modelling rapid mass movements using the shallow water equations in Cartesian coordinates

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hergarten ◽  
J. Robl
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Shallow Water Equations ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Mathematical Formulation ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Cartesian Coordinates ◽  
Flow Solver ◽  
Correction Terms ◽  
Rapid Mass

Abstract. We propose a new method to model rapid mass movements on complex topography using the shallow water equations in Cartesian coordinates. These equations are the widely used standard approximation for the flow of water in rivers and shallow lakes, but the main prerequisite for their application – an almost horizontal fluid table – is in general not satisfied for avalanches and debris flows in steep terrain. Therefore, we have developed appropriate correction terms for large topographic gradients. In this study we present the mathematical formulation of these correction terms and their implementation in the open-source flow solver GERRIS. This novel approach is evaluated by simulating avalanches on synthetic and finally natural topographies and the widely used Voellmy flow resistance law. Testing the results against analytical solutions and the proprietary avalanche model RAMMS, we found a very good agreement. As the GERRIS flow solver is freely available and open source, it can be easily extended by additional fluid models or source areas, making this model suitable for simulating several types of rapid mass movements. It therefore provides a valuable tool for assisting regional-scale natural hazard studies.

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