New publication on debris flow erosion in steep alpine catchments!

Debris-flow erosivity is a key control on runout length and impact but remains poorly understood, limiting predictive modelling for hazard mitigation. Most existing models assume constant erosivity along the channel. We evaluated debris-flow erosivity in five deeply eroding channels in Bavaria with boulder-, gravel-, and regolith-dominated beds, revealing distinct erosion patterns for each bed type. Our channel position-dependent approach improves debris-flow magnitude estimation and provides a framework for predictive modelling in similar catchments.

Stammberger, V., Boie, K., and Krautblatter, M. (2026): Channel position-dependent erosivity of steep debris flows combining gravitational and erosive processes: Towards predictive modeling, Engineering Geology, Volume 371, 108919, ISSN 0013-7952

Click here for the full read! https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2026.108919