Topographic Features of Debris Flow Gullies in Moxi Basin, Southwestern of China

Yongbo Tie

China Geological Survey, Chengdu Center (Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resource), Chengdu, China.

DOI: 10.4236/gep.2014.23004                

Abstract

Debris flows are the main geological hazards in the Moxi basin, which locate on the eastern slope of the M.T Minya Konka, Sichuan province, southwestern of China. The location of 49 debris flow gullies have been identified and mapped from the 1:50000 scale through the extensive field survey across the Moxi basin. The historical events data were collected from documents and visit to local residents, and were used as the basis for frequency analysis. Anymore, topographic features of debris flow gullies have been calculated using GIS software. The analysis showed that 73.5% of the debris flow gullies are not randomly distributed but concentrated directly adjacent to the western side of Moxi fault, and only 26.5% are located to the eastern side. The numbers, frequency, catchments area, gully length, gully slope ratio of these debris flow gullies in Moxi basin were affected by the glaciations and geological activity. The results show potential activity of debris flow in Moxi basin is strong, this research is essential to debris flow hazards mitigation.

Keywords

Debris Flow, Topographic Features, Moxi Basin

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Chen, X. Q., Cui, P., & Chen, B. R. (2006). 050811 Large-Scal Debris Flow in Hailuo Vally and Prevenment Countermeasures. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation, 3, 123-126. (In Chinese)
[2]	Dilley, M, Chen, R. S., Deichmann, U., Lerner, L. A., & Arnold, M. (2005). Natural Disaster Hotspots, a Global Risk Analysis, Disaster Risk Management Series No. 5. Washington: The World Bank Hazard Management Unit.
[3]	Heim, A. (1936). The Glaciation and Soliefluction of Minya Gongkar. Geographical Journal, 87, 444-454. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1785645
[4]	Liu, C. N., Huang, H. F., & Dong, J. J. (2008). Impacts of September 21, 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake on the Characteristics of Gully-Type Debris Flows in Central Taiwan. Nat Hazards, 47, 349-368. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-008-9223-9
[5]	Lv, R. R. (1992). An Extreme Heavy Debris Flow in Mt. Gongga. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 2, 174-177. (In Chinese)
[6]	Lv, R. R., & Gao, S. H. (1991). Debris Flow in the Ice Tongue Area of Hailuogou Glaeier on the Eastern Slope of Mt. Gongga. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 1, 73-80. (In Chinese)
[7]	Ministry of Land and Resources of China (2006). Standard for Debris Flow Survey.
[8]	Ni, H. Y., Zheng, W. M., Li, Z. L., & Ba, R. J. (2010). Recent Catastrophic Debris Flows in Luding County, SW China: Geological Hazards, Rainfall Analysis and Dynamic Characteristics. Nat Hazards. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9545-2
[9]	Santi, P. M., Hewitt, K. D. F., Van Dine, E., & Cruz, B. (2010). De-bris-Flow Impact, Vulnerability, and Response, Nat Hazards. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9576-8
[10]	Sergio, A., Sepu, I., & Cristo, B. P. (2008). Rain-Induced Debris and Mudflow Triggering Factors Assessment in the Santiago Cordilleran Foothills, Central Chile. Nat Hazards, 47, 201-215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-007-9210-6
[11]	Tie, Y. B., & Li, Z. L. (2011). Nonlinear Characters of Debris Flow Evolution in Moxi Basin. Journal of Engineering Geology, 3, 376-380. (In Chinese)
[12]	Tie, Y. B., & Li, Z. L. (2011). The Debris Flow Characteristics and It’s Environmental Re-sponse in Moxi Basin. Yangzi River, 13, 40-43. (In Chinese)
[13]	Tie, Y. B., & Li, Z. L. (2011). The Preliminary Study of Moraine Supplied-Rainstorm Debris Flow Mechanism in Moxi Basin. Bulletin of soil and water conservation, 4, 195-199. (In Chinese).
[14]	Yan, Q. S., & Zeng, Z. X. (2003) Geomorphology. Beijing: High Education Press, 74-82. (In Chinese)