Sediment production due to freeze-thaw action on bare slopes, and field observation for debris flow initiation
Sediment production, destruction of weathered bedrock, due to freeze and thaw action is commonly observed on bare slopes in various area during winter season. This type of the sediment production depends on climate, geology, topography of the area, and represents a potential of sediment supply to the watershed in long-term perspective. We have conducted a field observation of the sediment production due to freeze-thaw action, developed a model of freeze-thaw cycles based on thermal conductivity analysis, and simulated total sediment production in a watershed.
The deposition of sediment produced from bare slope is one of the major sources of debris flow triggered by heavy rainfall. Although it is assumed that the sediment deposition always saturated by pore water at the debris flow occurrence in previous debris flow researches, however unsaturated conditions of the sediment deposition are recently pointed out according to several field observations. We have conducted a field observation for debris flow initiation measuring the pore water pressure in sediment deposition at the Hiru dani stream.
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Tsutsumi, D., Fujita, M. (2016): Field observations, experiments, and modeling of sediment production from freeze and thaw action on a bare, weathered granite slope in a temperate region of Japan, Geomorphology, 267, 37-47.
Izumiyama, H., Tsutsumi, D., Fujita, M. (2012): Effect of Freeze-Thaw Action on Porosity Change and Destruction of Weathered Bedrock in Different Lithology and Development of Destruction Model, International Journal of Erosion Control Engineering, 5(1), 103-112.
Tsutsumi, D., Fujita, M., Teshima, H. (2006): Field Observation and Numerical Simulation for Sediment Yield due to Freeze and Thaw Process, The 6th Japan-Taiwan Joint Seminar on Natural Hazard Mitigation
Study on triggering mechanism of snowmelt type mudflow
By falling heated volcanic products on snow cover, huge amount of snowmelt water possibly triggers a mudflow disaster. We call this "snowmelt type mudflow", and consider a very risky hazard in terms of the disaster mitigation. To mitigate the risk of this snowmelt type mudflow, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of snowmelt and mudflow initiation, improve the numerical simulation method for mudflow behavior based on the mechanism. We have conducted several snowmelt experiment triggering mudflow, and developed a snowmelt and melting water infiltration model. We also conduct a cooperative research with PWRI, observing changing water content in snow, snow density.
Because of few cases of mud-flow triggered by snowmelt, their processes are still little understood. However, improvement of numerical simulation of the mud-flow requires accurate estimations of volume and timing of the mud-flow as initial conditions. We attempt to develop a model of snowmelt processes by hot volcanic materials. We also compose a comprehensive model of mud-flow throughout its generation to runoff to predict affected areas and timings of mud-flow under various conditions of snows and eruption.
Tsutsumi, D, Murashige, K, Fujita, M, Miyata, S (2014): Experimental Study on the Triggering Mechanism of Snowmelt-type Mudflow, The 5th International Workshop on Multimodal sedimet Disaster, 26-32.
Development of measurement method for bedload discharge
For integrated sediment control in a total river system and mitigation of sediment related disasters, actual measurement of sediment discharge is an essential work. Japanese pipe-hydrophones and Swiss plate geophones are recently practically used in Japan and European countries. Each equipments has its advantages and disadvantages for its structure and type of sensor. We cooperate with WSL in Switzerland to compare performance of these equipments, installing both pipe hydrophones and plate geophones at Ashiarai dani in Japan and at Erlenbach in Switzerland. We also installed a vertical type pipe hydrophone at Ashiarai dani to improve the bedload measurement. We also cooperate with Nippon Koei to develop a load cell type bedload measurement equipment.
Ito, T., Nagayama, T., Utsunomiya, R., Fujita, M., Tsutsumi, D., Miyata, S., Mizuyama, T. (2018): Development of new sensor systems for continuous bedload monitoring using a submerged load-cell system (SLS), Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 43(8), 1689-1700.
Ito, T., Nagayama, T., Utsunomiya, R., Fujita, M., Tsutsumi, D., Miyata, S., Mizuyama, T. (2017): Development of a bedload sensor for continuous measurement and its applicability, River Sedimentation - Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on River Sedimentation, ISRS 2016, 239-245.
Ito, T., Gotoh, K., Utsunomiya, R., Nonaka, M., Nagayama, T., Tsutsumi, D., Fujita, M., Miyata, S., Mizuyama, T. (2014): Experimental studies for monitoring of bedload using various sensors, Symposium Proceedings of INTERPRAEVENT2014 in the Pacific Rim, O-17, 1-10.
Koshiba, T., Auel, C., Tsutsumi, D., Kantoush, S.A., Sumi, T. (2018): Application of an impact plate – Bedload transport measuring system for high-speed flows, International Journal of Sediment Research, 33(1), 35-46.
Tsutsumi, D., Higashi, Y., Nonaka, N., Fujita, M. (2017): Bedload monitoring in a mountain stream method for improving the accuracy of the calibration relationship between acoustic pulses and bedload discharge, 2nd International workshop on sediment bypass tunnels.
Goto, K., Itoh, T., Nagayama, T., Utsunomiya, R., Tsutsumi, D., Mizuyama, T. (2016): Development and installation of bedload monitoring systems with submerged load cells, Journal of Mountain Science, 13(2), 369-376.
Mizuyama, T., Hirasawa, R., Kosugi, K., Tsutsumi, D., Nonaka, M. (2011): Sediment monitoring with a hydrophone in mountain torrents, International Journal of Erosion Control Engineering, 4(2), 43-47.
Prediction of shallow landslides
Shallow landslide area tend to widespread recently (surrounding area of Mt. Aso, 2012; Izu Oshima, 2013; Hiroshima, 2014), therefore it is difficult to simulate by a detailed model combining a saturate-unsaturate rainwater infiltration analysis and a slope stability analysis. On the other hand, conventional distributed model dividing a watershed by rectangular mesh for simulating landslide risk cannot predict accurate occurrence timing and amount of collapsed sediment. We are developing a new simulation method employing Topotubes for dividing the watershed and slope stability analysis with a critical slip surface method to improve the accuracy of the prediction and adaptability of the model to wider area.
Tsutsumi, D, Satofuka, Y, Hotta, N, Fujita, M, Miyata, S (2011): Landslides Induced by TohokuPacific Ocean Earthquake, 2011, Proceeding of 2nd INternational Workshop on Multimodal Sediment Disaster - Asian Cloud Network on Disaster Research-, 27-139.
Fujita, M., Ohshio, S., Tsutsumi, D. (2010): A prediction method for slope failure by means of monitoring of water content in slope-soil layer, Journal of Disaster Research, 3(5), 296-308.
Tsutsumi, D., Sidle, R.C., Kosugi, K. (2005): Development of a simple lateral preferential flow model with steady state application in hillslope soils, Water Resources Research, 41(12), W12420.
Rainfall-runoff processes caused by volcanic eruptions
A volcanic eruption results in deposit of erupted materials (e.g., volcanic ash, pyroclastic flow), which potentially cause increases in frequency and magnitude of debris flow and/or flash flood (i.e., lahar). Coverage of the erupted materials on hillslopes typically reduces infiltration of rainfall and decays vegetation. The eruption can severely change the rainfall-runoff processes in the volcano Therefore, the change of rainfall-runoff processes is essential for prediction of debris flow after the eruption. On the other hand, infiltration property of the hillslopes covered by the volcanic materials will change temporally due to physical factors and chemical reactions. To understand temporal change of infiltration property after eruption and develop a hydrological model, we have conducted field observations and field experiments in Sakurajima volcano and Mt. Merapi in central Java, Indonesia.
Gonda, Y., Miyata, S., Fujita, M., Legono, D., Tsutsumi, D. (2019): Temporal Changes in Runoff Characteristics of Lahars after the 1984 Eruption of Mt. Merapi, Indonesia, Journal of Disaster Research, 14(1), 61-68.
Gonda, Y., Miyata, S., Fujita, M., Legono, D., Tsutsumi, D. (2018): Temporal changes of rainfall-runoff relationship after the 1984 eruption of Mt. Merapi, Indonesia, Proceedings of the 21th IAHR-APD Congress, 1277-1283.
Masaoka, N., Kosugi, K., Katsuyama, M., Mizuyama, T., Miyata, S., Tsutsumi, D. (2014): Effects of bedrock groundwater and geological structure on hydrological processes in mountainous watersheds, Symposium Proceedings of INTERPRAEVENT2014 in the Pacific Rim, P-25, 1-7.
Flash flood is a phenomena in which river water level increases very rapidly; for instance, increases in water level of several ten to hundred cm within a few minutes. Disasters due to flash flood are sometimes reported in alpine watersheds. Because flash flood can reach downstream where little precipitation is observed, people in and along the alpine stream cannot keep sufficient lead time for evacuation. We observe rainfall and runoff in Kanakido River and perform a numerical experiment to understand trigger and behavior of flash flood and propose a risk index of flash flood.
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Hairani, A., Rahardjo, A.P., Legono, D., Istiarto, Miyata, S. (2018): Spatially distributed evaluation of initiation of mass erosion, Proceedings of the 21th IAHR-APD Congress, 1139-1144.
Miyata, S., Fujita, M., Teratani, T., Tsujimoto, H. (2014): Flash flood due to local and intensive rainfall in an alpine catchment, Symposium Proceedings of INTERPRAEVENT2014 in the Pacific Rim, O-33, 1-8.
Application of TDR to bedload monitoring
Bedload in steep mountainous streams is dependent on sediment supply as well as stream discharge. Monitoring of bedload in the field is critical for watershed management and mitigation of river and sediment disasters. Although a lot of bedload monitoring methods have been previously proposed, each of the methods has advantages and disadvantages. Thus, to understand sediment transport processes in steep watersheds, an appropriate measurement technique should be determined at each gauging station. Bedload can be estimated by temporal changes of sediment volume along river reaches or in pools such as retention basin. We have developed a new method for measurement of sediment volume in a retention basin with high resolutions in space and time by applying TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry).
Miyata, S., Mizugaki, S., Naito, S., Fujita, M. (2020): Application of time domain reflectometry to high suspended sediment concentration measurements: laboratory validation and preliminary field observations in a steep mountain stream, Journal of Hydrology, 585, Article 124747.
Miyata, S., Fujita, M. (2018): Laboratory based continuous bedload monitoring in a model retention basin: Application of time domain reflectometry, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 43(9), 2022-2030.
Sediment transport and erosion by river flow result in river bed change. Various methods of measuring sediment transport and river bed elevation have been proposed. Recently, new methods associated with technological progress have also been developed. Although these measurement methods with different approaches can extend potential monitoring sites, limitations of each method should understood. We collaborate with researchers from various universities (e.g., The University of Tokyo, Niigata University and Shizuoka University) and preform sediment flushing experiments to compare different measurement methods of bedload and river bed change in a step-pool stream. The measurement results by different approaches are employed to evince limitations of the methods and improve monitoring techniques.
Imaizumi, F., Gomi, T., Kobayashi, S., Negishi, J.N. (2009): Changes in bedload transport rate associated with episodic sediment supply in a Japanese headwater channel, CATENA, 77(3), 207-215.
Large scale experiment of landslide dam overtopping and dam break
Landslide dam produced by a blockage due to a huge landslide or a debris flow has a risk triggering a devastating disaster after the overtopping and dam break. There are little experiments regarding the overtopping and dam break processes. We cooperate with Ritsumeikan University to conduct middle scale experiment on overtopping and dam break in the Hiru dani stream.
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Takayama, S., Miyata, S., Fujimoto, M., Satofuka, Y. (2001): Numerical simulation method for predicting a flood hydrograph due to progressive failure of a landslide dam, Landslide, 18,3655–3670.
Takayama, S., Satofuka, Y., Fujimoto, M., Miyata, S. (2021): A field experimental study of a landslide dam outburst following progressive failure in the Ashiaraidani basin, Proceedings of 14th Congress INTERPRAEVENT2021, 294-302.
Akazawa, F., Ikeda, A., Hayami, S., Harada, N., Satofuka, Y., Miyata, S., Tsutsumi D. (2014): Numerical Simulation of Landslide Dam Deformation by Overtopping Flow, International Journal of Erosion Control Engineering, 7(3), 85-91.