debris flow | Clear Creek County, Colorado | Spring 2003

[bassplayerpet]

So first off, I'm wondering why anyone would dislike this. Second off, that is terrific footage! These flows are hard to anticipate to even watch them happen, much less have a video camera ready

[bapyou]

@bassplayerpet

Hello. Just so you know, this video footage was taken by a Denver television camera crew not by me. Read the video description for more info.

[Setmefree22]

amazing footage

[bapyou]

@Setmefree22 Yes, it is amazing footage, isn't it? It was captured in the Rocky Mountainsby a television crew from Denver. I downloaded this video from the USGS website.

[AsGoodAs90]

Really scary!

[Alexknobsob]

Before there were words and explanations it just was only this.

[bapyou]

Ha ha. I guess you're right.

[HomeboyJiggles]

that looked kinda weird

[YippideeDOO]

Wow...that was awesome! I thought the Tucson Monsoons were cool ~ this was way cooler. Tks for the video.

[davidsquall351]

nice

[hebneh]

Very bizarre-looking - like an avalanche, yet composed of water, and therefore flowing like a liquid, even though all you initially see are big, moving rocks.

[economistBR]

What??? Water pushing huge rocks??

Don't rocks sink in the water?! I guess that the mud did the job.

[bapyou]

This is known as a debris flow. Debris flows are composed of rocks of varying sizes that are supported by a mud mixture in between the rocks. So you are correct in saying that "the mud (does) the (work)". The mud, in effect, "supports" the larger rocks in the debris flow mixture.

[rocker53zero]

My factory in N Ireland is perched on the edge of a river which has washed away the bank due to debris flows and it has caused a 15 foot deep gully . It's normally a small stream, but when it's in flood, there are half ton rocks being carried like toys. Scary stuff really.

[bapyou]

Hello rocker. Thanks for sharing that information about "your factory" and the river nearby your factory. Why don't you make a video of the river near your factory? You have me interested.

[bapyou]

As far as rocks sinking in water, that is true if the water is standing still. When water is flowing, it can be a powerful implacable force, and sediments can be moved, depending on the size of the sediment, and the velocity of the flowing water.

[raymondlawust]

The video is good!

[rocdocusa]

Fantastic! Great for everyone to learn exactly what a debris flow is and the kinds of landforms they leave behind.