Debris-Flow Hazard Assessments: A Practitioner's View

ABSTRACT Substantial advances have been achieved in various aspects of debris-flow hazard assessments over the past decade. These include sophisticated ways to date previous events, two- and three-dimensional runout models including multi-phase flows debris entrainment options, applications extreme value statistics assemble frequency–magnitude analyses. Pertinent questions remained same: How often, how big, fast, deep, intense, far? Similarly, although major life loss attributable can but not always, be avoided developed nations, remain one principal geophysical killers mountainous terrains. differences persist between nations. Some rely on a design magnitude associated with specific return period; others use relationships intensity frequency; some allow for, do mandate, in-depth quantitative risk assessments. Differences exist management risks, from highly nation-wide applied protocols retroaction which catastrophic occur before they are considered for mitigation. Two factors conspire challenge future generations researchers, practitioners, decision makers: Population growth climate change, increasingly manifested by augmenting hydroclimatic extremes. While researchers will undoubtedly finesse remote sensing, dating, techniques models, practitioners need focus translating those into practical cost-efficient tools integrating long-term management.