Impact of Recent Extreme Arizona Storms

	Become an AGU Member Subscribe to AGU Journals



Print Version (317928 bytes) EOS, TRANSACTIONS AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION, VOL. 88, NO. 17, doi:10.1029/2007EO170003, 2007 Impact of Recent Extreme Arizona Storms Christoper S. Magirl U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, Ariz., USA Robert H. Webb U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, Ariz., USA Mike Schaffner U.S. National Weather Service, Tucson, Ariz., USA Steve W. Lyon University of Arizona, Tucson, USA Peter G. Griffiths U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, Ariz., USA Craig Shoemaker U.S. National Weather Service, Tucson, Ariz., USA Carl L. Unkrich U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Tucson, Ariz., USA Soni Yatheendradas University of Arizona, Tucson, USA Peter A. Troch University of Arizona, Tucson, USA Eric Pytlak U.S. National Weather Service, Tucson, Ariz., USA Dave C. Goodrich U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Tucson, Ariz., USA Sharon L.E. Desilets University of Arizona, Tucson, USA Ann Youberg Arizona Geological Survey, Tucson, USA Phil A. Pearthree Arizona Geological Survey, Tucson, USA Abstract Heavy rainfall on 27–31 July 2006 led to record flooding and triggered an historically unprecedented number of debris flows in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Ariz. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) documented record floods along four watercourses in the Tucson basin, and at least 250 hillslope failures spawned damaging debris flows in an area where less than 10 small debris flows had been documented in the past 25 years. At least 18 debris flows destroyed infrastructure in the heavily used Sabino Canyon Recreation Area (http://wwwpaztcn.wr.usgs.gov/rsch_highlight/articles/200611.html). In four adjacent canyons, debris flows reached the heads of alluvial fans at the boundary of the Tucson metropolitan area. While landuse planners in southeastern Arizona evaluate the potential threat of this previously little recognized hazard to residents along the mountain front, an interdisciplinary group of scientists has collaborated to better understand this extreme event. Published 24 April 2007. Index Terms: 1817 Hydrology: Extreme events; 1810 Hydrology: Debris flow and landslides; 1821 Hydrology: Floods. Print Version (317928 bytes) Citation: Magirl, C. S., et al. (2007), Impact of Recent Extreme Arizona Storms, Eos Trans. AGU, 88(17), doi:10.1029/2007EO170003. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.

Abstract