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Impacts of September 21, 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake on the characteristics of gully-type debris flows in central Taiwan

Author

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  • Chia-Nan Liu
  • Hsiao-Fung Huang
  • Jia-Jyun Dong

Abstract

Debris flows are more frequent in central Taiwan, because of its mountainous geography. For example, many debris flows were induced by Typhoon Herb in 1996. The Chi-Chi earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3, which took place in 1999 in central Taiwan, induced many landslides in this region. Some landslides turned into debris flows when Typhoon Toraji struck Taiwan in 2001. This study investigates the characteristics of the gullies where debris flows have occurred for a comparison. Aerial photos of these regions dated in 1997 (before the earthquake) and 2001 (after the earthquake) are used to identify the occurrence of gully-type debris flows. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is applied to acquire hydrological and geomorphic characteristics: stream gradient, stream length, catchment gradient, catchment area, form factor, and geology unit of these gullies. These characteristics in different study regions are presented in a statistical approach. The study of how strong ground motion affects the debris flows occurrence is conducted. The characteristics of the debris flow gullies triggered by typhoons before and after the Chi-Chi earthquake are quantitatively compared. The analysis results show that a significant transformation in the characteristics was induced by the Chi-Chi earthquake. In general, the transformation points out a lower hydrological and geomorphic threshold to trigger debris flows after the Chi-Chi earthquake. The susceptibility of rock units to strong ground motion is also examined. The analysis of debris flow density and accumulated rainfall in regions of different ground motion also reveal that the rainfall threshold decreases after the Chi-Chi earthquake. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008

Suggested Citation

  • Chia-Nan Liu & Hsiao-Fung Huang & Jia-Jyun Dong, 2008. "Impacts of September 21, 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake on the characteristics of gully-type debris flows in central Taiwan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 47(3), pages 349-368, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:47:y:2008:i:3:p:349-368
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-008-9223-9
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. H. Ni & W. Zheng & Y. Tie & P. Su & Y. Tang & R. Xu & D. Wang & X. Chen, 2012. "Formation and characteristics of post-earthquake debris flow: a case study from Wenjia gully in Mianzhu, Sichuan, SW China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 61(2), pages 317-335, March.
    2. Bin Yu & Yu Ma & Yufu Wu, 2013. "Case study of a giant debris flow in the Wenjia Gully, Sichuan Province, China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 65(1), pages 835-849, January.
    3. Yong-Jun Lin & Yuan-Hsiou Chang & Yih-Chi Tan & Hong-Yuan Lee & Yu-Jia Chiu, 2011. "National policy of watershed management and flood mitigation after the 921 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 56(3), pages 709-731, March.

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