Sharksbaja
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Flood dynamics
The theory of flash flooding is somewhat complicated as the water runs off the desert w/o soaking it and holding it. You hydrology folks may be
helpful here.
Will the next evnt or heavy rains soak in now better because of capillary action and wicking or will it be the same. Completely dry and runs-off?
[Edited on 9-15-2006 by Sharksbaja]
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Cypress
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Not a hydrologist, but steep slopes without much vegetation such as the areas surrounding Mulege will not soak up very much rainfall if it fall's in
volumes over 2+ inches /hour. Called such events "waterspouts" in northeast Oregon, the resulting floods, while only affecting small drainade areas,
would bounce boulders the size of VW's down thru the creek bottoms 
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Sonora Wind
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Big Rain
Heavy Rain + Big drainage + small outlet + Steep Topo= FLASH FLOOD. Part of Einstines theroy of S--T flows down hill + Payday Friday. You can count
on flash floods every time the rain exceeds .5" over 1/2 an hour, over 1/2 the drainage. Everything else less is just auga in the road. Everything more is some form of nature changing the way earth looks. Not
good for the lower parts of the drainage.
[Edited on 9-14-2006 by Sonora Wind]
[Edited on 9-14-2006 by Sonora Wind]
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Bruce R Leech
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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with rainfalls in the range of the last storm it wont make much deference ether way. but the puddles will stay around longer after it is over. but I
really don't want to test my theory.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Al G
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IMHO
Dry will always absorb faster thew wet.
Soil density makes a world of difference.
Pee on the beach and it is hard to make a puddle.
Pee on ground you cannot put a shovel in and you get your sandals wet.
Sharksbaja, You are also right about "capillary action and wicking" some water will change the surface density and the soil below may be less dense.
Not a hydrologist, but it makes sense to me.
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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EngineerMike
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The hills around Mulege are more porous than the soils of the floodplain, but much shallower to bedrock or the equivalent.
After John, the hills will accept less water because they now have some in they. The clayey soils of the floodplain wouldn't have absorbed much in
John, and now that they are pregnant w/precipitation, will accept less.
The big problem is always rainfall intensity. Too much to soak in or be contained in existing flow channels. And of course those idiot humanoids
build in the floodplain, so Man-A-Bunga, here comes the flood. (Oops, guess I'm one of the idiots)
Director, Mulege Student Scholarship Program
Oasis Rio Baja #M-3, & Auburn, CA
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sunchaser
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Al G
IMHO
Pee on the beach and it is hard to make a puddle.
Pee on ground you cannot put a shovel in and you get your sandals wet.
where else but on this forum can we find these pearls of wisdom? Thanks Al G! I'll pass this on to my g'kids!
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toneart
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Al G
Pee on the beach and it is hard to make a puddle.
Pee on ground you cannot put a shovel in and you get your sandals wet.
At my age I've peed in a lot of places, and ya know what?
He's right! |
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FARASHA
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There we go, so much on FLOOD DYNAMICS
 quite educative AND FUN this thread, best way to attain knowledge.
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Sharksbaja
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That's right Farasha
you can learn a lot from children.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
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FARASHA
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I wonder as to where all the HYDROLOGY experts have disappeared, to fieldtest their puddle theory?
or to compete
okay now seriously:
If it is true what has been said on the previous posts - then next heavy rainfall will maybe cause more damage.
Speaking out of experience - Austria had and still has repeatedly floods- if the soil is already soaked, then expect troubles.
Depending on underground: mudslides, rockslides,etc....are creating new riverbeds etc. Reshaping the landscape.
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Sharksbaja
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Totally different here in the soggy NW. Our organic laden soils here hold a tremendous amount of water. So much so that the water tables can run from
very deep to close to the surface thu wicking. It takes a lot of rain to flood here and it's amazing how fast that water soaks in.
I have heard that your region has been dealing with receding glaciers. Less snow, more rain?
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
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FARASHA
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Last years winter was extremely cold and lot's of snow, even Danube River was frozen for some weeks -no shipping possible.
Suddenly temperatures went up, all snow and ice started thawing, rivers filled quickly, as the undground was still frozen and wouldn't take up any
water, and in the Mountains - solid Rocks, then it started to rain, p'ng down for days. Result : flooded areas left and right of the river, over 20
square kilometers in some regions. Regions which never had floods before, or not for the last 100 years
Mother Nature gave us another lesson, within 2 years it was another disaster to suffer, for the same people.
So most did consider to leave the area, after second time.
You can't fight a Mother - certainly not Mother Natur.
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