Numerical modeling of the emplacement of Socompa rock avalanche, Chile

The 7.5 ka Socompa sector collapse emplaced 25 km³ of fragmented rock as a thin, but widespread (500 km²), avalanche deposit, followed by late stage sliding of 11 km³ as Toreva blocks. Most of the avalanche mass was emplaced dry, although saturation of a basal shear layer cannot be excluded. Modeling was carried out using the depth-averaged granular flow equations in order to provide information on the flow behavior of this well-preserved, long run-out avalanche. Results were constrained using structures preserved on the surface of the deposit, as well as by deposit outline and run-up (a proxy for velocity). Models assuming constant dynamic friction fail to produce realistic results because the low basal friction angles (1 to 3.5°) necessary to generate observed run-out permit neither adequate deposition on slopes nor preservation of significant morphology on the deposit surface. A reasonable fit is obtained, however, if the avalanche is assumed simply to experience a constant retarding stress of 50-100 kPa during flow. This permits long run-out as well as deposition on slopes and preservation of realistic depositional morphology. In particular the model explains a prominent topographic escarpment on the deposit surface as the frozen front of a huge wave of debris reflected off surrounding hills. The result that Socompa avalanche experienced a small, approximately constant retarding stress during emplacement is consistent with a previously published analysis of avalanche data.