Debris-flow generated tsunamis and their dependence on debris-flow dynamics

Abstract

Debris-flow generated tsunamis can be extremely dangerous for lakeside settlements and infrastructure. Debris-flow composition strongly affects debris-flow thickness and velocity, and therefore also the generated tsunami. This interaction is, however, poorly understood. We investigate the effects of debris-flow volume, composition (gravel, sand, clay, water) and subaerial outflow slope on wave celerity and amplitude in a small-scale physical model consisting of an inclined outflow channel which transits into a three-dimensional water reservoir. We find that upon debouching, a debris flow pushes the water forward until wave celerity exceeds subaqueous debris-flow velocity (i.e. Froude number <1). The wave then detaches from the debris flow and travels into the far-field. Pushing of the debris-flow oversteepens and accelerates the generated wave beyond the celerity predicted by linear wave theory for shallow waves. It also increases its non-linearity but does not result in wave breaking. Wave celerity has the strongest relation with debris-flow velocity. Debris-flow velocity increases with increasing water and clay content (up to 22%), which both lubricate the flow. Far-field leading wave amplitude has the strongest relation with debris-flow momentum (velocity times effective mass), which is mostly a function of debris-flow thickness, water and clay content. We test the applicability of published (semi-empirical) equations for predicting tsunami amplitude generated by dry landslides, and show that they are to some extent also applicable to debris flow. Potential scale effects, especially considering the smallest waves and water depths, could influence the applicability of these predictors and translation of the results to the field scale. Our results demonstrate the importance of debris-flow composition on tsunami generation and evolution, and thus the necessity of including flow composition in predictive simulation models.