Geomorphic effect of debris-flow sediments on the Min River, Wenchuan Earthquake region, western China

Coseismic landslides and subsequent mobilization of sediment greatly aggravated the landscape evolution and river sedimentation after the Wenchuan earthquake. The debris-flow alluvial fan and river morphological index was combined to describe quantitatively the effects of debris-flow sediment on the river characteristics in Longmen Mountains. The section of the Min River from the urban area of the Wenchuan county to the epicenter, the Yingxiu town in this county, was selected as the study area. We identified 27 river-blocking debris-flows (5 partial-, 7 semi-, 7 over semi-, and 5 fully-blocking degrees) in the study area via remote sensing interpretation and field survey. Based on this, the response of river longitudinal profile and curvature to debris-flow sediment was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The results show that the channel gradient has decreased due to debris-flow aggradation, while two marked peaks in the river steepness index (k(sn), represents the relative steepness degree of the channel) changed from 585 m(0.9) to 732 m(0.9) in zone 1, from 362 m(0.9) to 513 m(0.9) in zone 2. Moreover, the main channel has undergone substantial lateral migration with channel width decreased and river curvature increased. The temporal and spatial variation between river morphological characteristics and debris-flow sediments in short-term provides insights into the internal dynamic role of mass wasting processes in river morphology, which could be served as useful information for natural hazards management to prevent the river from being blocked by episodically debris flows after the earthquake.

Automated summary

The study on the Min River segment after the Wenchuan earthquake revealed significant impacts of debris-flow sediment on the river characteristics, such as the decrease in channel gradient, changes in channel width, and increased river curvature. This temporal and spatial variation between river morphological characteristics and debris-flow sediments in short-term provides valuable insights for natural hazards management to prevent river blockage by episodic debris flows after earthquakes.