Hydrologic conditions and terrestrial laser scanning of post-firedebris flows in the San Gabriel Mountains, CA, U.S.A
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Abstract
To investigate rainfall-runoff conditions that generate post-wildfire debris flows, we instrumented and surveyed steep, small watersheds along the tectonically active front of the San Gabriel Mountains, California. Fortuitously, we recorded runoff-generated debris-flows triggered by one spatially restricted convective event with 28 mm of rainfall falling over 62 minutes. Our rain gages, nested hillslope overland-flow sensors and soil-moisture probes, as well as a time series of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) revealed the effects of the storm. Hillslope overland-flow response, along two ~10-m long flow lines perpendicular to and originating from a drainage divide, displayed only a 10 to 20 minute delay from the onset of rainfall with accumulated totals of merely 5-10 mm. Depth-stratified soil-moisture probes displayed a greater time delay, roughly 20- 30 minutes, indicating that initial overland flow was Hortonian. Furthermore, a downstream channel-monitoring array recorded a pronounced discharge peak generated by the passage of a debris flow after 18 minutes of rainfall. At this time, only four of the eleven hillslope overland flow sensors confirmed the presence of surface-water flow. Repeat TLS and detailed field mapping using GPS document how patterns of rainsplash, overland-flow scour, and rilling contributed to the generation of metter-scale debris flows. In response to a single small storm, the debris flows deposited irregular levees and lobate terminal snouts on hillslopes and caused wide- spread erosion of the valley axis with ground surface lowering exceeding 1.5 m.
Suggested Citation
Schmidt, K., Hanshaw, M.N., Howle, J., Kean, J., Staley, D.M., Stock, J., and Bawdeng, W., 2011, Hydrologic conditions and terrestrial laser scanning of post-firedebris flows in the San Gabriel Mountains, CA, U.S.A: Italian Journal of Engineering Geology and Environment, p. 583-593, https://doi.org/10.4408/IJEGE.2011-03.B-064.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Hydrologic conditions and terrestrial laser scanning of post-firedebris flows in the San Gabriel Mountains, CA, U.S.A |
| Series title | Italian Journal of Engineering Geology and Environment |
| DOI | 10.4408/IJEGE.2011-03.B-064 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Sapienza Università di Roma |
| Contributing office(s) | Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center |
| Description | 11 p. |
| First page | 583 |
| Last page | 593 |
| Conference Title | 5th International Conference on Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation: Mechanics, Prediction and Assessment |
| Conference Location | Padua, Italy |
| Conference Date | June 14-17, 2011 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Other Geospatial | San Gabriel Mountains |