Debris flow initiation characteristics and occurrence probability after extreme rainfalls: case study in the Chenyulan watershed, Taiwan

Abstract. Rainfall and other extreme events often trigger debris flows. This study examines the debris flow initiation characteristics and probability of debris flow occurrence after extreme rainfalls. The Chenyulan watershed, central Taiwan, which has suffered from the Chi-Chi earthquake (CCE) and extreme rainfalls, was selected as a study area. The rainfall index (RI) was used to analyze the return period (T) and characteristics of debris flow occurrence after extreme rainfalls. The characteristics of debris flow occurrence included the variation in critical RI, threshold of RI for debris flow initiation, and recovery period (t₀), the time required for the lowered threshold to return to the original threshold. The variations in critical RI after extreme rainfall and t₀ associated with RI were presented. The critical RI threshold was reduced in the years following an extreme rainfall event. The reduction in RI as well as t₀ were influenced by the RI. Reduced RI values showed an increasing trend over time, and it gradually return to initial RI. The empirical relationship between the probability of debris flow occurrence (P) and corresponding T of the rainfall characteristics for areas affected by extreme rainfalls and affected by the CCE were developed. Finally, a method for determining the P of a rainfall event was proposed based on the relationship between P and T. This method was successfully applied to evaluate the probability of debris flow occurrence after extreme rainfalls.