Articles | Volume 25, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-4941-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-4941-2025
Research article
 | 
12 Dec 2025
Research article |  | 12 Dec 2025

Identification of rainfall thresholds for debris-flow occurrence through field monitoring data

Elena Ioriatti, Mauro Reguzzoni, Edoardo Reguzzoni, Andreas Schimmel, Luca Beretta, Massimo Ceriani, and Matteo Berti

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Cited articles

Abancó, C., Hürlimann, M., Moya, J., and Berenguer, M.: Critical rainfall conditions for the initiation of torrential flows. Results from the Rebaixader catchment (Central Pyrenees), J. Hydrol., 541, 218–229, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.01.019, 2016. 
Aleotti, P.: A warning system for rainfall-induced shallow failures, Eng. Geol., 73, 247–265, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.01.007, 2004. 
Badoux, A., Graf, C., Rhyner, J., Kuntner, R., and McArdell, B. W.: A debris-flow alarm system for the Alpine Illgraben catchment: design and performance, Nat. Hazards, 49, 517–539, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-008-9303-x, 2009. 
Bernard, M., Barbini, M., Berti, M., Boreggio, M., Simoni, A., and Gregoretti, C.: Rainfall-Runoff Modeling in Rocky Headwater Catchments for the Prediction of Debris Flow Occurrence, Water Resour. Res., 61, e2023WR036887, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036887, 2025. 
Berti, M. and Simoni, A.: Experimental evidences and numerical modelling of debris flow initiated by channel runoff, Landslides, 2, 171–182, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-005-0062-4, 2005. 
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Short summary
We propose a new method to define rainfall thresholds for debris flows and increased stream activity. Developed in an Alpine catchment, it relies on monitoring data and is suited to early warning in data-scarce settings with few recorded debris-flow events. The study examines sensitivity to rain-gauge placement and to the criteria used to define rainfall events.
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