Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-122
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-122
11 Apr 2022
 | 11 Apr 2022
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Evaluating the applicability of a terrain-based floodplain delineation tool for a broad-scale assessment of flood exposure of tailings deposits

Gabriel Pérez-Murillo, Neil McIntyre, Raymond C. Z. Cohen, and Mahesh Prakash

Abstract. Construction and abandonment of mine tailings deposits in river floodplains have created environmental risks associated with the release of toxic substances during floods. Assessment tools are needed to understand levels of risk and to prioritize sites for management. These tools need to be computationally efficient over wide areas, potentially whole river basins, which generally excludes reliance on 2D hydrodynamic models. This research evaluates the applicability of a terrain-based floodplain delineation tool (GFPLAIN) to assess flood exposure of tailings deposits by comparing its results against a 2D hydrodynamic model, the Shallow Water Integrated Flood Tool (SWIFT). For this compassion, the case study area of Copiapó River Basin (Atacama, Chile) was used to model two flood scenarios, the extreme flood event of March 2015, and a hypothetical flood with a 100-year return period. Overall, the GFPLAIN flood maps showed limitations in reproducing the list of tailings deposits identified as exposed by SWIFT, with some agreement between some of the top 10 deposits prioritized by these tools. We conclude that GFPLAIN, while fast to apply and potentially able to prioritize sites at risk, has limitations in providing an accurate and complete assessment due to its limited consideration of local terrain and flood dynamics.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Gabriel Pérez-Murillo, Neil McIntyre, Raymond C. Z. Cohen, and Mahesh Prakash

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-122', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Jun 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Gabriel Perez, 08 Aug 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-122', Anonymous Referee #1, 06 Jun 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Gabriel Perez, 08 Aug 2022
Gabriel Pérez-Murillo, Neil McIntyre, Raymond C. Z. Cohen, and Mahesh Prakash
Gabriel Pérez-Murillo, Neil McIntyre, Raymond C. Z. Cohen, and Mahesh Prakash

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This preprint has been withdrawn.

Short summary
This research evaluates the applicability of a simplified tool for delineating flood-prone areas (the GFPLAIN algorithm) to assess flood exposure of mine waste deposits in a region with historical mining in Northern Chile. We concluded that the GFPLAIN algorithm, while fast to apply and potentially able to prioritise some sites at risk, has limitations in providing an accurate and complete assessment due to its limited consideration of local terrain and the flood dynamics.