Parameters influencing compensational behavior of alluvial fans.

摘要

The ability to predict the path and lateral spread of future debris-flows would serve as an essential tool in selecting and implementing mitigation. Preemptive mitigation can prevent infrastructure damage and protect residents living in mountainous areas from devastating encounters with debris flows. It is of vital importance that potential predictors of debris-flow tendencies be better understood.;Four alluvial fan exposures were evaluated for compensational behavior, the tendency of sediment gravity-flow deposits to preferentially fill topographic lows. Correlations were explored between what is termed the "modified compensational index" (KCV) and alluvial fan parameters. KCV values of 0.0, 0.5, and 1.0 represent aggradational, random, and compensational depositional stacking tendencies, respectively.;Final calculated KCV values were 0.423, 0.605, 0.421, and 0.608, implying that two fans exhibit weak compensational tendencies while the other two fans act somewhat aggradationally. A statistically significant correlation was found between KCV and the percent clay in matrix material.