Debris Flow Events at Mountainous Creeks near Santiago, Chile- Hydrologic Analysis

by X. Vargas,
P. Lara,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: North American Water and Environment Congress & Destructive Water

Abstract:

One of the most important aspects in relation to peak flows magnitudes generated in mountainous catchments at the western side of the Andes facing the city of Santiago, Chile (latitude 33 south), deals with the area affected by liquid rain. In some rainfall events, the occurrence of high temperatures raises the level at which rain turns into snow, which causes the increase of the area contributing to runoff and thus higher than normal flow volumes. Commonly associated with this phenomenon is an increase of rainfall intensities with altitude, which also tends to raise peak flows. The paper deals with the hydrologic analysis of events that, due to high temperatures and (or) high rainfall magnitudes, cause debris flows in mountainous catchments in the area under study, such as those that occurred on May 3, 1993, which affected strongly the riverine population, generating severe damages of infrastructure as well as losses of human life.

Subject Headings: Rainfall | Peak flow | Mountains | Debris | Catchments | Temperature effects | Solids flow | Chile | South America | Andes

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