Debris-Flow Channel Headwater Dynamics: Examining Channel Recharge Cycles With Terrestrial Laser Scanning

Abstract

Debris-flows present a natural hazard to the safe operation of linear infrastructure in mountainous environments. The most significant contributor to debris-flow occurrence is a supply of readily erodible material, often created by rockfalls and other shallow landslides. The spatial distribution and total volume of storage are also critical factors, controlling the initiation location, predominant flow type, and termination location of debris-flow surges. Therefore, there is a need to be able to systematically incorporate debris recharge processes and timeframes into the monitoring and characterization of debris-flow hazards. In this work, the authors present the results of 7 years of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) captured at the White Canyon. The White Canyon represents an analog to large scale, steep catchments to investigate the role of sediment supply on debris-flow processes. The TLS dataset was collected at monthly to quarterly intervals, providing a basis for analysis of debris transfer processes occurring on the study slope. A rockfall database of over 72,000 events was generated from 52 change detection analyses and is linked to catchment recharge and transfer processes. The results indicate that the 17 channels analyzed in the White Canyon do not directly match the conceptual models proposed from the supply theory. The channels display a variety of behaviors when exposed to the same climate signature. The temporal data acquisition rate was found to have a significant influence on the dynamics of movement that can be interpreted from TLS change detection analysis. The work highlights the need for higher frequency monitoring and the integration of climate data into the analysis, in order to better understand these dynamic processes.