Mud and debris flow modeling as hazard assessment tool

Mud and debris flows are natural hazards of hydrometeorological and geological origin, geological threats are those originated by terrestrial processes such as earthquakes, volcanic emissions and mass movements; while hydrometeorological threats are of atmospheric and hydrological origin, which contribute significantly to the generation of geological threats, so that a flow of mud and debris is originated by a combination of geological and hydrological events. In some countries this phenomenon generates many economic and human losses each year and with the effects of climate change these could increase, therefore, evaluating the threat, its study and modeling is important to adequate risk management. The objective of the study was to review in detail the methodologies and models currently used in the study of mud and debris flows, their scope and limitations, for which an extensive bibliometric review of the models and studies in which these methodologies were applied was carried out. It was found that the analysis of the phenomenon requires an integrated approach to hydrological, geotechnical and hydraulic aspects. Some models allow describing its rheological behavior and conditioning factors associated with climate and soil, however, the characterization of other aspects such as entrainment and changes in the fluid properties are still limited