Debris flow

A debris flow, referred to in geological multiple use also with the English word debris flow, is a mass movement in which cobbles, stones and boulders, in some cases, plants, trees or other debris to be transported as a contiguous stream downhill in a muddy matrix. Debris flows can reach speeds of up to 20 meters per second.

Examples of debris flows on land are landslides in the mountains or debris- rich lahars after volcanic eruptions.

The density of the material contained in a debris flow is 2-2.5 grams per cubic centimeter. The water content of the debris flow, which causes the thixotropic behavior of the current is at least 5 %, but may be significantly greater. The friction at the base of the current is strongly reduced by the water content and the turbulent flow. The pebbles are held by viscosity of the matrix and their high density in suspension. A debris flow can transport large blocks and flow on nearly flat surfaces.