<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Debris-flows are infrequent geomorphic phenomena that shape steep valleys and can repre-sent a severe hazard for human settlements and infrastructure. In this study, a debris-flow event chro-nology has been derived at the regional scale within the Gesäuse National Park (Styria, Austria) using dendrogeomorphic techniques. Sediment sources and deposition areas were mapped by combined field investigation and aerial photography using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Through the analysis of 384 trees, a total of 47 debris-flows occurring in 19 years between AD 1903 and 2008 were identified in five adjacent gullies. Our results highlight the local variability of debris-flow activi-ty as a result of local thunderstorms and the variable availability of sediment sources. </p></abstract>

Debris-flows are infrequent geomorphic phenomena that shape steep valleys and can repre-sent a severe hazard for human settlements and infrastructure. In this study, a debris-flow event chro-nology has been derived at the regional scale within the Gesäuse National Park (Styria, Austria) using dendrogeomorphic techniques. Sediment sources and deposition areas were mapped by combined field investigation and aerial photography using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Through the analysis of 384 trees, a total of 47 debris-flows occurring in 19 years between AD 1903 and 2008 were identified in five adjacent gullies. Our results highlight the local variability of debris-flow activi-ty as a result of local thunderstorms and the variable availability of sediment sources.

Debris-flow activity in five adjacent gullies in a limestone mountain range

Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter Jordanstrasse 82, A-1190 Vienna, Austria

Dendrolab.ch, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Berne, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland

Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 7 chemin de Drize, CH-1227 Carouge-Geneva, Switzerland

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Debris-flow activity in five adjacent gullies in a limestone mountain range"}

Debris-flows are infrequent geomorphic phenomena that shape steep valleys and can repre-sent a severe hazard for human settlements and infrastructure. In this...

Debris-flow activity in five adjacent gullies in a limestone mountain range

Published Online: Mar 27, 2015

Page range: -

Received: May 27, 2014

Accepted: Feb 06, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/geochr-2015-0007

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.