Article,
Anthropogenic influence of open pit mining on river floods, an example of the Blessem flood 2021
(2023)
DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108522
Abstract
Large scale anthropogenic relief changes result in a non-equilibrium landscape and such landscapes are prone to catastrophic erosion events during river floods. An example is the major flood event in western German in July 2021. During this event, the Erft River flooded an open gravel pit near the village of Erftstadt-Blessem, resulting in a massive erosional event, including the catastrophic destruction of parts of the settlement. Three different geomorphological periods occurred during the event: I) rapid backward erosion caused the destruction of the overlaying soils and floodplain sediments. Consequently, the gravel pit was filled with water and sediments. Three different pathways of backward erosion were activated during this period. II) Sedimentation in a temporary lake and the formation of alluvial fans. III) The Erft River moved towards the gravel pit due to the erosional processes followed by a second flood. Understanding of such complex erosional and depositional processes in open pit mining areas might serve as a blueprint for processes and hazards in anthropogenic influenced landscapes.
