Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Atmospheric Forcing of Debris Flows in the Southern Swiss Alps

Andrea Toreti Department of Geography, Climatology, Climate Dynamics and Climate Change, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany

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Michelle Schneuwly-Bollschweiler Climatic Change and Climate Impacts Research, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, and Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

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Markus Stoffel Climatic Change and Climate Impacts Research, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, and Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

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Jürg Luterbacher Department of Geography, Climatology, Climate Dynamics and Climate Change, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany

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Print Publication:
01 Jul 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-13-077.1
Page(s):
1554–1560
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Abstract

This article addresses the role of large-scale circulation and thermodynamical features in the release of past debris flows in the Swiss Alps by using classification algorithms, potential instability, and convective time scale. The study is based on a uniquely dense dendrogeomorphic time series of debris flows covering the period 1872–2008, reanalysis data, instrumental time series, and gridded hourly precipitation series (1992–2006) over the area. Results highlight the crucial role of synoptic and mesoscale forcing as well as of convective equilibrium on triggering rainfalls. Two midtropospheric synoptic patterns favor anomalous southwesterly flow toward the area and high potential instability. These findings imply a certain degree of predictability of debris-flow events and can therefore be used to improve existing alert systems.

Corresponding author address: Andrea Toreti, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, 1 Senckenbergstr., 35390 Giessen, Germany. E-mail: andrea.toreti@geogr.uni-giessen.de

Abstract

This article addresses the role of large-scale circulation and thermodynamical features in the release of past debris flows in the Swiss Alps by using classification algorithms, potential instability, and convective time scale. The study is based on a uniquely dense dendrogeomorphic time series of debris flows covering the period 1872–2008, reanalysis data, instrumental time series, and gridded hourly precipitation series (1992–2006) over the area. Results highlight the crucial role of synoptic and mesoscale forcing as well as of convective equilibrium on triggering rainfalls. Two midtropospheric synoptic patterns favor anomalous southwesterly flow toward the area and high potential instability. These findings imply a certain degree of predictability of debris-flow events and can therefore be used to improve existing alert systems.

Corresponding author address: Andrea Toreti, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, 1 Senckenbergstr., 35390 Giessen, Germany. E-mail: andrea.toreti@geogr.uni-giessen.de
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Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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