Research interests

Towards a better predictability of debris flows: How can we parameterize the processes at the initiation and during a debris flow to gain a better understanding of mobilization, entrainment and consequently the magnitude of hazardous events?

Different parameters such as the erodibility of channels consisting of loose sediment as well as intact bedrock, the trigger intensity, return time and event magnitude are investigated thoroughly at various test sites of different scales. Steep alpine catchments from 105 m2 to 109 m2 ensure a wide range of cases for the development of a physically meaningful empirically-calibrated mechanical debris flow model to predict erosivity across scales and magnitude-frequency relations of potential debris flows in a changing climate.