In what ways does a debris flow differ from a typical mudflow?

A debris flow and a typical mudflow differ in several ways: 1. Composition: Debris flows contain a wide range of particle sizes and materials including soil, rocks, and organic matter, while mudflows consist mainly of fine-grained sediments like silt and clay mixed with water. 2. Consistency: Debris flows have a viscous and heterogeneous consistency, resembling wet concrete, whereas mudflows have a more homogeneous consistency, resembling a thick soup or slurry. 3. Speed: Debris flows generally move faster than mudflows, often exceeding 10 meters per second (36 km/h), while mudflows typically range from 1 to 5 meters per second (3.6 to 18 km/h). 4. Causes: Debris flows can be triggered by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, volcanic eruptions, and the collapse of unstable slopes, whereas mudflows are mainly caused by heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt, saturating fine-grained sediment and causing it to flow.