Determination of Hazard Due to Debris Flows

Abstract

Debris flows have generated major disasters worldwide due to their great destructive capacity, which is associated with their high energy levels and short response times. To achieve adequate risk management of these events, it is necessary to define as accurately as possible the different hazard levels to which the territory is exposed. This article develops a new methodology to estimate this hazard based on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the flow and the granulometry of the sediments that can be mobilized by the flow. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the flow are determined via mathematical modeling that considers the rheology of non-Newtonian flows and the different volumes of sediments that could be transported during events corresponding to different return periods. The proposed methodology was implemented in the Jamundí River basin (Colombia). The results obtained indicate that in the upper part of this basin, there is a low hazard level, while in the lower part of the basin, approximately 15% of the affected territory has a medium hazard level, and the remaining 85% has a low hazard level. The methodology developed is simple to implement but technically rigorous since it considers all relevant aspects in the generation of debris flows.