Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods
Abstract Channel widening is a major hazard during floods, particularly in confined mountainous catchments. However, channel widening during floods is not well understood and not always explained by hydraulic variables alone. Floods in mountainous regions often coincide with landslides triggered by...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | npj Natural Hazards |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00059-6 |
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| author | Georgina L. Bennett Diego Panici Francis K. Rengers Jason W. Kean Sara L. Rathburn |
| author_facet | Georgina L. Bennett Diego Panici Francis K. Rengers Jason W. Kean Sara L. Rathburn |
| author_sort | Georgina L. Bennett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Channel widening is a major hazard during floods, particularly in confined mountainous catchments. However, channel widening during floods is not well understood and not always explained by hydraulic variables alone. Floods in mountainous regions often coincide with landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, yet landslide-channel interactions during a flood event are not well known or documented. Here we demonstrate with an example from the Great Colorado Flood in 2013, a 1000 year precipitation event, how landslide-channel feedbacks can substantially amplify channel widening and flood risk. We use a combination of DEM differencing, field analysis, and multiphase flow modeling to document landslide-channel interaction during the flood event in which sediment delivered by landslides temporarily dammed the channel before failing and generating substantial channel widening. We propose that such landslide-flood interactions will become increasingly important to account for in flood hazard assessment as flooding and landsliding both increase with extreme rainfall under climate change. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89875973207c4207b17779793517726b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2948-2100 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Natural Hazards |
| spelling | doaj-art-89875973207c4207b17779793517726b2025-01-26T12:15:49ZengNature Portfolionpj Natural Hazards2948-21002025-01-01211910.1038/s44304-025-00059-6Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floodsGeorgina L. Bennett0Diego Panici1Francis K. Rengers2Jason W. Kean3Sara L. Rathburn4Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of ExeterFaculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of ExeterU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological SurveyDepartment of Geosciences, Colorado State UniversityAbstract Channel widening is a major hazard during floods, particularly in confined mountainous catchments. However, channel widening during floods is not well understood and not always explained by hydraulic variables alone. Floods in mountainous regions often coincide with landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, yet landslide-channel interactions during a flood event are not well known or documented. Here we demonstrate with an example from the Great Colorado Flood in 2013, a 1000 year precipitation event, how landslide-channel feedbacks can substantially amplify channel widening and flood risk. We use a combination of DEM differencing, field analysis, and multiphase flow modeling to document landslide-channel interaction during the flood event in which sediment delivered by landslides temporarily dammed the channel before failing and generating substantial channel widening. We propose that such landslide-flood interactions will become increasingly important to account for in flood hazard assessment as flooding and landsliding both increase with extreme rainfall under climate change.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00059-6 |
| spellingShingle | Georgina L. Bennett Diego Panici Francis K. Rengers Jason W. Kean Sara L. Rathburn Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods npj Natural Hazards |
| title | Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods |
| title_full | Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods |
| title_fullStr | Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods |
| title_short | Landslide-channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods |
| title_sort | landslide channel feedbacks amplify channel widening during floods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00059-6 |
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