The 2002 debris flow in the Babia Góra massif - implications for the interpretation of mountainous geomorphic systems

Abstract

In summer 2002 a debris flow of unusually large extent and dimensions occurred on the steepnorthern slope of the Babia Góra massif, West Carpathians. The failure zone was located above the tim-berline and the track continued for about 700 m down the slope, ending within the upper montane fo-rest belt. During the last 100 years no similar event was recorded in the uppermost part of the massif. The2002 flow prompts a modified approach to the recognition of mountain geomorphic systems. It providesclear evidence that a few years, or even a few tens of years of observations may be insufficient to recordall important components of the Holocene geomorphic system. The recognition of this gap bears onapproaches to hazard and risk mapping. The absence of high magnitude slope processes within the li-mited observation period must not be taken as the evidence that these cannot occur in the current envir-onmental conditions, and the worst-case scenario needs therefore to be adopted.