Geologic Publications for Mount Rainier

Hydraulic modeling for lahar hazards at Cascades volcanoes

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Author(s): J E. Costa

Category: PUBLICATION
Document Type:
Publisher: Environmental and Engineering Geoscience
Published Year: 1997
Volume: 3
Number: 1
Pages: 21 to 30
DOI Identifier:
ISBN Identifier:
Keywords:

Abstract:
The National Weather Service flood routing model DAMBRK is able to closely replicate field-documented stages of historic and prehistoric lahars from Mt. Rainier, Washington, and Mt. Hood, Oregon. Modeled time-of-travel of flow waves are generally consistent with documented lahar travel-times from other volcanoes around the world. The model adequately replicates a range of lahars and debris flows, including the 230 million km³ Electron lahar from Mt. Rainier, as well as a 10 m³ debris flow generated in a large outdoor experimental flume. The model is used to simulate a hypothetical lahar with a volume of 50 million m³ down the East Fork Hood River from Mt. Hood, Oregon. Although a flow such as this is thought to be possible in the Hood River valley, no field evidence exists on which to base a hazards assessment. DAMBRK seems likely to be usable in many volcanic settings to estimate discharge, velocity, and inundation areas of lahars when input hydrographs and energy-loss coefficients can be reasonably estimated.

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Suggested Citations:
In Text Citation:
Costa (1997) or (Costa, 1997)

References Citation:
Costa, J.E., 1997, Hydraulic modeling for lahar hazards at Cascades volcanoes: Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 21-30.