Mudflow: meaning, definitions and examples

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mudflow

 

[ ˈmədˌflō ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

natural disaster

A mudflow is a rapid flow of a mixture of water, earth, and debris down a slope, often triggered by heavy rainfall or snowmelt. This phenomenon can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure in its path. Mudflows are often associated with volcanic eruptions or extreme weather events.

Synonyms

debris flow, landslide, mudslide

Examples of usage

  • The heavy rain caused a mudflow that destroyed several homes.
  • During the volcanic eruption, a mudflow swept down the mountainside.
  • Residents were warned of potential mudflows after the storm.
  • Emergency services were deployed to assist with mudflow recovery efforts.

Translations

Translations of the word "mudflow" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fluxo de lama

🇮🇳 कीचड़ प्रवाह

🇩🇪 Schlammfluss

🇮🇩 aliran lumpur

🇺🇦 зсув бруду

🇵🇱 lawina błotna

🇯🇵 土流れ

🇫🇷 coulée de boue

🇪🇸 flujo de lodo

🇹🇷 çamur akıntısı

🇰🇷 진흙 유동

🇸🇦 تدفق الطين

🇨🇿 bahenní proud

🇸🇰 blatový prúd

🇨🇳 泥石流

🇸🇮 blatni tok

🇮🇸 mölflóð

🇰🇿 балшық ағыны

🇬🇪 ჭუჭყის ნაკადი

🇦🇿 palçıq axını

🇲🇽 flujo de lodo

Etymology

The term 'mudflow' comes from the combination of 'mud,' which refers to wet, soft earth or clay, and 'flow,' indicating movement. The concept dates back to early geological studies aimed at understanding the effects of erosion and sediment transport. As natural disasters became more documented, specific terminology like 'mudflow' emerged to describe particular events where saturated soils and loose materials slide down slopes. The understanding of mudflows has been critical in environmental science, particularly in assessing landslide hazards and in developing safety guidelines for vulnerable regions. Over time, as awareness of climate change and extreme weather events has increased, the study of mudflows has gained importance for disaster preparedness and response efforts globally.