A Peaty-debris Flow in Glen Docherty, Wester Ross

ABSTRACT

Glen Docherty has a long history of debris flow activity along the glen’s north east slope, but in early August 2015 a peaty-debris flow was triggered on the glen’s south west slope, involving an initial slide volume of 190 m³ debris/peat, of which 89 m³ consisted of peat. The flow merited study due to (a) its unusual location relative to debris flow activity affecting the rest of the glen, (b) the volume of peat involved and its effect on flow behaviour, (c) the role of immediate post-debris flow fluvial activity and (d) later responses to the event including subsequent weathering, fluvial activity and the potential for debris flow reactivation.

Key Words:

• peaty-debris flow
• channelised flow
• peat slurry
• fluvial activity

Acknowledgements

My thanks to Dr Richard Johnson, Bath Spa University, for providing the article ‘Johnson and Warburton (2015)’ and for his initial encouragement. Thanks are also due to my anonymous reviewers for their most helpful comments and to my editor Dr David Evans, Durham University, for guiding me through the publishing process so smoothly.