Answer
A lahar and a debris flow are both types of mass-wasting events involving the rapid movement of material, but they differ in their composition and triggering mechanisms. A lahar is a type of volcanic mudflow that occurs during or after a volcanic eruption. It is primarily composed of volcanic ash, rocks, and water, and is triggered by the mixing of volcanic debris with water, either from rainfall or the melting of snow and ice on the volcano. On the other hand, a debris flow in southern California is more typical of a mass-wasting event involving a mixture of rock fragments, soil, and water, triggered by heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt.
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