Rock slope instabilities are implicitly linked to the supply of sediment
and debris recharging channels prone to debris flow. Hence, the incorporation
of bedrock structure and terrain morphology can be relevant in the
analysis of sediment budget and debris flow hazard assessment. Here,
the mode of debris production of the Manival catchment (northern
French Alps) is documented by the study of its morphostructural aspects
extracted from high resolution DEM. Terrain implication in the process
of debris supply is evaluated by: a) A systematic classification
of the major morphological units based on the slope gradient that
enables a spatial analysis of zones of debris production and deposition.
b) A detailed structural analysis performed on DEM in order to identify
potential unstable slopes. c) An analysis of the gullies orientation
that informs in term of structural control of the sources zones.
d) Localisation of high density joints sets that document about whether
sources of continuous debris production are controlled by the structural
setting of the catchment. These DEM-based indicators can be used
as proxies for assessing the influences of the current topography
and enable to quantify a degree of susceptibility to mass wasting
and hillslope erosion activity. This present contribution suggests
some directions for characterizing sediment flux dynamic in small
alpine catchment.