Geology and Geomorphology of Alluvial and Fluvial Fans: Terrestrial and Planetary Perspectives
CONTAINS OPEN ACCESS
Alluvial and fluvial fans are the most widespread depositional landform bordering the margins of highland regions and actively subsiding continental basins, across a broad spectrum of tectonic and climatic settings. They are significant to the local morphodynamics of mountain regions and also to the evolution of sediment-routing systems, affecting the propagation and preservation of stratigraphic signals of environmental change over vast areas.
The volume presents case studies discussing the geology and geomorphology of alluvial and fluvial fans from both active systems and ancient ones preserved in the stratigraphic record. It brings together case studies from a range of continents, climatic and tectonic settings, some introducing innovative monitoring and analysis techniques, and it provides an overview of current debates in the field.
This volume will be of particular interest to geologists, geomorphologists, sedimentologists and the general reader with an interest in Earth science.
Comparative numerical modelling of a debris-flow fan in the Eastern Italian Alps
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Published:January 01, 2018
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CiteCitation
Andrea M. Deganutti, Pia R. Tecca, Giuseppe Nigro, 2018. "Comparative numerical modelling of a debris-flow fan in the Eastern Italian Alps", Geology and Geomorphology of Alluvial and Fluvial Fans: Terrestrial and Planetary Perspectives, D. Ventra, L. E. Clarke
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Abstract
Knowledge of rheology can reduce damage caused by debris flows, providing a means to delineate hazard-prone areas and to estimate the dangerous effects of these phenomena. The application of numerical models of debris-flow propagation and deposition for hazard prediction requires detailed topographical, hydrological and rheological data, which are not always available. The large Rivoli Bianchi Fan on the Eastern Italian Alps is mainly built from sediment transported by debris flows along the Citate Torrent and its tributaries. We compared the results of numerical simulations performed with two different single-phase, non-Newtonian, two-dimensional models, FLO-2D and IDRA2D-DF, to test their reliability in simulating the behaviour of debris flows on alluvial fans. Data from field topographic surveys and from rain gauges were used as input for the boundary conditions, referring to the Rivoli Bianchi Fan as an example location. The commercial FLO-2D model creates a more accurate representation of the hazard-prone zone in terms of flooded area, but the results in terms of runout distances and deposit thickness are similar to those obtained through the open-source IDRA2D-DF. Parameters obtained through back analysis with both models can be cautiously applied to predict hazard in areas of similar geology, morphology and climate.
- algorithms
- alluvial fans
- Alps
- debris flows
- deposition
- digital terrain models
- Eastern Alps
- equations
- Europe
- floods
- fluid flow
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia Italy
- geologic hazards
- hydrographs
- Italy
- mass movements
- mathematical methods
- natural hazards
- numerical models
- prediction
- rheology
- simulation
- Southern Europe
- Tagliamento Valley
- topography
- velocity
- FLO-2D model
- Rio Citate
- Rivoli Bianchi Fan
- IDRA2D DF model