Contribution to the Runout Evaluation of Potential Debris Flows in Peloritani Mountains (Messina, Italy)

Abstract

Especially important for landslide prevention activities is to recognize the potential path of the debris flows from the triggering point to the stop. The huge number of debris flow (over 2000), occurred after 2007 in the Messina Municipality area, has allowed to evaluate the runout of these phenomena in the geographical area of the Peloritani Mountains. A preliminary runout analysis was carried out plotting the mobilized volume by phenomena multiplied the altitude difference (∆ha) between the trigger point (Piff) and the stop point (Pip), in abscissa, and the distance travelled by the phenomena from the Piff to Pip, in the ordinate. Subsequently, these approach has been revised to make the applicability to potential phenomena more effective and easier to use. With this aim, was chosen to use the altitude difference (∆hb) between the trigger point (Piff) and the foot of the slope where the movement occurred. Starting from the location and size of the potential triggering areas and from the knowledge of the volume of the potentially mobilized material and basing on these curves, the runout of potential trigger areas has been estimated.

Research funded by the Messina Municipality