Environmental disturbances such as extreme meteorological events or climate change induce hydro-geomorphic disturbance across different scales. Hydro-geomorphic disturbances, such as landslides, rockfalls, and avalanches, as well as extreme meteorological events such as extreme floods and wildfires, contribute significantly to the alteration of catchment dynamics and evolution. These disturbances trigger modifications from the hillslopes to the channel, modifying sediment, water, and vegetation regimes. Moreover, the interplay between these disturbances and climatic conditions can result in complex and unpredictable effects with potential severe consequences for citizens and infrastructures and challenging hazard assessment and catchment management.
This session aims to consolidate research on mountain catchments affected by disturbances, with a focus on the alteration of the hillslope and channel processes. It will investigate how hydro-geomorphic disturbances impact flood (including debris flows and debris floods) dynamics and influence management in mountain streams. Specific processes of interest include soil slides, permafrost thawing, rockfalls, (ice-)rock avalanches, debris flows, debris floods, wildfires, windthrow, and deforestation, along with their consequences on in-channel dynamics and the implications for management strategies. The session is oriented to collect contributions of specific in-situ case studies, process models and innovative tools and methodologies for improving hazard mapping. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how these disturbances affect flood patterns and behaviour, sediment transport, as well as the interactions with vegetation and large wood in mountain streams, possibly considering the effect of climate change. We invite contributions that explore these processes through case studies and field monitoring programmes, to discuss potential solutions, including innovative monitoring and nature-based approaches for mitigating flood hazards and hillslope instabilities.