Hillslope debris flow

Slope debris flow

FLOWING SOIL

The mixture of water, earth and debris flows down the slope as a mud avalanche. A lot of rain, snowmelt and a slope are factors that promote a hillslope debris flow.

Experts distinguish between continuous and spontaneous slides and hillslope debris flows. A hillslope debris flow occurs if a lot of rain falls. The mixture of water, earth and debris flows as a mudslide on the surface of the slope with a large amount of water into the valley. A snowmelt can also help to trigger this process. Slides, for their part, are either triggered spontaneously with little water “en bloc” or continuously. They usually involve a large area, are uniform and occur over an extended period of time.  Slides can be expected on slopes with inclinations as small as 10 degrees and more.

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Natural hazards of Switzerland