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Debris-flow and flooding deposits in coastal Venezuela associated with the storm of December 14-16, 1999

IMAP 2772
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/i2772

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Abstract

Heavy rainfall from the storm of December 14?16, 1999, triggered thousands of shallow landslides on steep slopes of the Sierra de Avila north of Caracas, Venezuela, and caused flooding and massive debris flows in the channels of major drainages that severely damaged coastal communities along the Caribbean Sea. Within this region we characterized geologic conditions where landslides initiated on hillsides and examined the texture of debris-flow deposits in the channels of nine drainages. In one of the most severely damaged areas on a highly developed alluvial fan at Caraballeda, we measured debris-flow deposits that ranged up to 5 meters (m) in thickness, inundating structures and roads over a large portion of the fan. Boulders up to 5 m long were carried along by the flows, impacted structures causing serious damage, and were deposited on the fan. Using field measurements and comparing pre-event and post-event topography from aerial photographs, we determined the volume of debris-flow and flood deposition on the fan to be about 2 million cubic meters. The total volume of material transported and deposited by landslides throughout the Vargas region ranks this as one of the most severe historical erosional events worldwide.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Debris-flow and flooding deposits in coastal Venezuela associated with the storm of December 14-16, 1999
Series title IMAP
Series number 2772
ISBN 0607999357
DOI 10.3133/i2772
Edition Version 1.0
Year Published 2002
Language ENGLISH
Description 1 map : col. ; 32 x 102 cm., on sheet 102 x 127 cm., folded in envelope 30 x 24 cm. + 1 data sheet (102 x 127 cm.).
Scale 25000
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