Challenges on modelling debris flows triggered by permafrost melting: the study case of the debris fl ow in the Mulas River in 2013.

MOREIRAS, STELLA M.; VICTOR, BURGOS; LAURO, CAROLINA; CORREAS GONZALEZ, MARIANA; JEANNERET, PILAR

La Serena

Conferencia; 17th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (XVII PCSMGE), and 2nd Latin-American Regional Conference of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG); 2024

Debris flows that pose a threat to high mountainous areas of the Subtropical Andes are often triggered by extreme rainfall and snow/ice melting. However, due to the current climate change, the causes of geoclimatic events have mutated, and higher temperatures affecting permafrost areas in the paraglacial environment have been causing violent debris flow events in Andes mountain areas over the last decade. On 7th February 2013, a large and violent debris flow occurred in the Mulas River, causing damage to a mountain village, leaving people isolated and causing severe economic damages. The event was correlated with an increase in ground temperature and it was described in the field by estimating the volume and velocity. The 7F event was simulated by two hydraulic models, HEC RAS and R F low, trying to reconstruct debris flow behavior using field information for model calibration