Landslide and alluvial fan caused by an extreme rainfall in Suao, Taiwan

H. T. Chou, C. F. Lee, Chia-Ming Lo, C. P. Lin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Typhoon Megi coupling with northeastern monsoon induced an extreme rainfall of 939 mm upon the Suao area, Yilan county, eastern Taiwan on 21 October, 2010. Such a heavy rainfall triggered many up-slope landslides along the coast highway Route 9. During Typhoon Megi, a landslide of 2.1 million m3 was transformed into a debris flow along a steep ravine across Route 9, then formed an alluvial fan at the Pacific coastline. In the present work, the field survey, rainfall histogram, airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data, and high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) were used to quantify the morphological change before and after this event. The fan slope and the drainage-basin area follow the power law relationship as proposed by Hooke (1968). Field observation exhibits the slopes of 8.9° for the sub-aerial alluvial fan. The submarine slope of the alluvial fan is milder than the sub-aerial due to strong wind-wave forcings. The 3-D numerical simulation was also performed to explore the dynamics of the debris avalanche process.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLandslides and Engineered Slopes
Subtitle of host publicationProtecting Society through Improved Understanding - Proceedings of the 11th International and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides and Engineered Slopes, 2012
EditorsErik Eberhardt, Corey Froese, A. Keith Turner, Serge Leroueil
PublisherCRC Press/Balkema
Pages487-494
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9780415621236
StatePublished - 2012
Event11th International Symposium on Landslides and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides, 2012 - Banff, Canada
Duration: 2 Jun 20128 Jun 2012

Publication series

NameLandslides and Engineered Slopes: Protecting Society through Improved Understanding - Proceedings of the 11th International and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides and Engineered Slopes, 2012

Conference

Conference11th International Symposium on Landslides and 2nd North American Symposium on Landslides, 2012
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityBanff
Period2/06/128/06/12

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