Interpretation of landslide distribution triggered by the 2005 Northern Pakistan earthquake using SPOT 5 imagery

The 2005 northern Pakistan earthquake (magnitude 7.6) of 8 October 2005 occurred in the northwestern part of the Himalayas. We interpreted landslides triggered by the earthquake using black-and-white 2.5-m-resolution System Pour l’Observation de la Terre 5 (SPOT 5) stereo images. As a result, the counts of 2,424 landslides were identified in the study area of 55 by 51 km. About 79% or 1,925 of the landslides were small (less than 0.5 ha in area), whereas 207 of the landslides (about 9%) were large (1 ha and more in area). Judging from our field survey, most of the small landslides are shallow rock falls and slides. However, the resolution and whitish image in the photos prevented interpreting the movement type and geomorphologic features of the landslide sites in detail. It is known that this earthquake took place along preexisting active reverse faults. The landslide distribution was mapped and superimposed on the crustal deformation detected by the environmental satellite/synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, active faults map, geological map, and shuttle radar topography mission data. The landslide distribution showed the following characteristics: (1) Most of the landslides occurred on the hanging-wall side of the Balakot–Garhi fault; (2) greater than one third of the landslides occurred within 1 km from the active fault; (3) the greatest number of landslides (1,147 counts), landslide density (3.2 counts/km²), and landslide area ratio (2.3 ha/km²) was found within Miocene sandstone and siltstone, Precambrian schist and quartzite, and Eocene and Paleocene limestone and shale, respectively; (4) there was a slight trend that large landslides occurred on vertically convex slopes rather than on concave slopes; furthermore, large landslides occurred on steeper (30° and more) slopes than on gentler slopes; (5) many large landslides occurred on slopes facing S and SW directions, which is consistent with SAR-detected horizontal dominant direction of crustal deformation on the hanging wall.     

Landslides triggered by the 22 July 2013 Minxian–Zhangxian,China, Mw 5.9 earthquake: Inventory compiling and spatial distribution analysis

On July 22, 2013, an earthquake of Ms. 6.6 occurred at the junction area of Minxian and Zhangxian counties, Gansu Province, China. This earthquake triggered many landslides of various types, dominated by small-scale soil falls, slides, and topples on loess scarps. There were also a few deep-seated landslides, large-scale soil avalanches, and fissure-developing slopes. In this paper, an inventory of landslides triggered by this event is prepared based on field investigations and visual interpretation of high-resolution satellite images. The spatial distribution of the landslides is then analyzed. The inventory indicates that at least 2330 landslides were triggered by the earthquake. A correlation statistics of the landslides with topographic, geologic, and earthquake factors is performed based on the GIS platform. The results show that the largest number of landslides and the highest landslide density are at 2400 m–2600 m of absolute elevation, and 200 m–300 m of relative elevation, respectively. The landslide density does not always increase with slope gradient as previously suggested. The slopes most prone to landslides are in S, SW, W, and NW directions. Concave slopes register higher landslide density and larger number of landslides than convex slopes. The largest number of landslides occurs on topographic position with middle slopes, whereas the highest landslide density corresponds to valleys and lower slopes. The underlying bedrocks consisting of conglomerate and sandstone of Lower Paleogene (E^b) register both the largest number and area of landslides and the highest landslide number and area density values. Correlations of landslide number and landslide density with perpendicular- and along-strike distance from the epicenter show an obvious spatial intensifying character of the co-seismic landslides. The spatial pattern of the co-seismic landslides is strongly controlled by a branch of the Lintan-Dangchang fault, which indicates the effect of seismogenic fault on co-seismic landslides. In addition, the area affected by landslides related to the earthquake is compared to the relationship of “area affected by landslides vs. earthquake magnitude” constructed based on earthquakes worldwide, and it is shown that the area affected by landslides triggered by the Minxian–Zhangxian earthquake is larger than that of almost all other events with similar magnitudes.     

汶川、芦山和鲁甸地震滑坡分布规律对比研究

汶川M_S8.0级地震、芦山M_S7.0级地震和鲁甸M_S6.5级地震均引发了大量的滑坡灾害。由于震级差异和地质地形条件的不同,地震滑坡分布情况有较大区别。本文综合已有的研究成果,从地震、地质和地貌3个方面,对比分析了地震滑坡的分布规律。结果表明:（1）3次地震滑坡数量和密度随着PGA和震级的增加而增加。汶川和鲁甸地震随烈度的增加,滑坡数量呈现递增的趋势。但芦山地震在较低烈度区也发育着大量滑坡。（2）断层影响滑坡分布的最大距离随着震级的增加而增加。在最大影响距离0.2倍的范围内,汶川地震分布有80%的滑坡,而其他两次地震仅30%。此外,汶川地震滑坡数量随断层距离呈指数衰减关系。（3）地震滑坡的分布受到地形的强烈影响。Ⅶ度及以上烈度区地形切割深度越大,地震触发的滑坡集中分布区域相对高差越大。同时,滑坡集中发育的坡度会随之增加。切割深度越大,地震滑坡更易发生在地势较陡的山脊或者上坡处,这可能与地形放大效应有关。     

汶川八级地震地质灾害研究

汶川地震触发了15000多处滑坡、崩塌、泥石流,估计直接造成2万人死亡。地质灾害隐患点达10000余多处,以崩塌体增加最为显著,反映出地震对山区高陡斜坡的影响差异性非常大,在山顶上的放大作用非常显著。通过综合分析堰塞湖库容、滑坡坝高以及坝体物质组成和结构,对地震形成的33处坝高大于10m的滑坡堰塞湖进行了评估,划分出极高、高、中和低4种溃决危险。汶川地震滑坡滑床往往不具连续平整的滑面,尖点撞击是极震区滑坡的一大共性,可以分为勺型滑床、凸型滑床和阶型滑床等类型。据实地调查,滑坡附近震毁建筑物垂向震动非常明显,具有地震抛掷撞击崩裂高速滑流三阶段特征。在高速滑流中,发生3种效应:(1)高速气垫效应,滑坡体由较大块石和土构成,具有一定厚度,飞行行程可达1~3km;(2)碎屑流效应,撞击粉碎的土石呈流动状态,特别是含水丰富时,形成长程流滑;(3)铲刮效应,巨大撞击力导致下部岩体崩裂,形成新滑坡、崩塌,但是,其厚度不大,滑床起伏不平。本文以北川城西滑坡和青川东河口滑坡为例,分析了地震滑坡高速远程滑动及成灾机理。北川县城城西滑坡导致1600人被埋死亡,数百间房屋被毁,是汶川地震触发的最严重的滑坡灾难,举世罕见。青川东河口滑坡碎屑流是汶川地震触发的较为典型的高速远程复合型滑坡,滑程约2400m,高速碎屑流冲抵清江河左岸,形成滑坡坝,致使7个村庄被埋,约400人死亡。     

Reconnaissance report on landslide disasters in northeast Japan following the M 9 T��hoku earthquake

An earthquake of M_w 9.0 struck the Pacific coast in northeast Japan on March 11, 2011 and was followed by a hugely damaging tsunami along 500 km of the Japanese coastline. An inland aftershock of M. 7.0 occurred on April 11; during which, surface fault ruptures appeared on land. A large variety of landslide disasters resulted from these earthquakes in various parts of northeastern Honshu, Japan. The full extent of the landslides is still being determined. This brief report introduces some of the landslide phenomena so far investigated by the Japanese Landslide Society. These are (1) failure of a water reservoir embankment dam in Sukagawa, Fukushima prefecture, (2) landslides and surface seismic fault rupture from the April 11 aftershock in Iwaki, Fukushima, (3) a concentration of surface failures at Matsushima Bay in Miyagi prefecture, and (4) small landslides on modified slopes in residential areas around Sendai city.     

Landslide triggers along volcanic rock slopes in eastern Sicily (Italy)

A new dataset of landslides, occurred in a tectonically active region, has been analysed in order to understand the causes of the slope instability. The landslides we have dealt with took place along the volcanic rock cliff of S. Caterina and S. Maria La Scala villages (eastern Sicily, Italy), a densely inhabited area located on the eastern margin of Mt. Etna, where some seismogenic faults, locally named Timpe system, slip during moderate local earthquakes and also move with aseismic creep mechanisms. The results show that landslides are triggered by heavy rainfalls, earthquakes and creep fault episodes. Indeed, they occur along discrete fault segments, exhibiting a combination of both brittle failure, indicated by the earthquake occurrence, and aseismic creep events. The analysis of seismicity occurred on the Timpe fault system has shown that the active Acireale fault, in its southernmost segment, is subject to an aseismic sliding, which increases after the stick–slip motion in the nearby faults. Therefore, aseismic creep seems to concur in the predisposition of a rock to fail, since strains can increase the jointing of rock masses leading to a modification in the slope stability. Understanding the factors concurring to the slope instability is a useful tool for future assessments of the landslide hazard in densely settled areas, located on a volcanic edifice, such as Etna that is slowly sliding seawards, and where active faults, seismicity and heavy rains affect the deeply fractured slopes.     

Dynamic properties of earthquake-induced large-scale rapid landslides within past landslide masses

During the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture earthquake, thousands of landslides were triggered, among them two large-scale rapid landslides (Higashi Takezawa and Terano landslides) occurred within past landslide masses and dammed the river at the toe of the landslides, posing great risks for the society. Detailed field investigation was performed on these two landslides. To examine the triggering and movement mechanisms, samples were taken from these two landslides. By using a ring shear apparatus, real earthquake wave loading test and cyclic loading tests were performed on these samples. The test results revealed that those sand samples from both landslides can suffer from sliding surface liquefaction phenomenon with very low final apparent friction angles, while the silt sample from Terano landslide showed no liquefaction failure, indicating that the sliding surfaces of these rapid landslides must have been formed within the sand layer in the past landslide masses.     

Spatial distribution of landslides triggered by the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake,China

The Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008 is one of the most disastrous earthquakes in China. The earthquake triggered tens of thousands of landslides over a broad area, including shallow, disrupted landslides, rock falls, deep-seated landslides, and rock avalanches, some of which buried large sections of some towns and dammed the rivers. The purpose of this study is to investigate correlations between the occurrence of landslides with geologic and geomorphologic conditions, and seismic parameters. Over 56,000 earthquake-triggered landslides, with a total area of 811 km², are interpreted using aerial photographs and remote sensing images taken following the earthquake. The spatial distribution of these landslides is analyzed statistically using both landslide-point density (LPD), defined as the number of landslides per square kilometer, and landslide-area density (LAD), the percentage of the area affected by landslides, to determine how the occurrence of landslides correlates with distance from the epicenter, distance from the major surface rupture, seismic intensity and peak ground acceleration (PGA), slope angle, slope aspect, elevation, and lithology. It is found that both LAD and LPD have strong positive correlations with slope steepness, distance from the major surface rupture and seismic intensity, and that Pre-Sinian schist, and Cambrian sandstone and siltstone intercalated with slate have the most concentrated landslide activities, followed by the Permian limestone intercalated with shale, and Devonian limestone. Statistical analyses also indicate that the major surface rupture has influence on the spatial distribution of landslides, because LAD and LPD are relatively higher on the hanging wall than on the footwall. However, the correlation between the occurrence of landslides with distance from the epicenter of the earthquake is complicated, rather than a relatively simple negative correlation as found from other reported cases of earthquakes. This is possibly due to complicated rupture processes of the earthquake.     

汶川地震黄洞子沟右岸大型滑坡地质构造特征及成因

"5·12"汶川地震发生于龙门山逆冲构造带映秀-北川断裂,此次地震沿约300 km地表破裂带触发了大型滑坡百余处,其中大光包滑坡、红石沟滑坡和老鹰岩滑坡发育于绵阳安州区黄洞子沟右岸不到5 km区段内,规模均超过千万方,且大光包滑坡是此次地震中最大滑坡,也是世界罕见的巨型滑坡。本研究通过大量现场照片、遥感影像和实地测绘,结合XRD、岩石薄片手段在此3个滑坡滑源区展开了详细的地质调查。结果表明:（1）先期深埋的中-缓倾构造层带为大光包滑坡提供了潜在侧滑面,与岩体结构面组合触发了大光包大型楔形体破坏;（2）红石沟滑坡发育于含多级角砾、糜棱质次级错动带的碎裂结构坡体,地震中这些倾坡外的次级错动带快速贯通形成滑坡底滑面;（3）老鹰岩滑坡主控于厚层陡倾构造带,地震中该带沿走向拉裂破坏,加之两侧陡倾结构面组合切割触发了老鹰岩大型楔形体破坏。研究进一步发现,红石沟斜坡紧临大水闸背斜轴部、老鹰岩和大光包斜坡位于其两翼,认为该背斜构造对研究区斜坡地震稳定性有较大影响。本研究仅揭示了3个典型地质构造滑坡类型,汶川地震百余处大型滑坡地质构造成因有待进一步研究。     

Characteristics and failure mechanism of landslides along highways triggered by 2021 Ms6.4 Yangbi earthquake

On May 21, 2021, at 21:48, the Ms6.4 Yangbi earthquake struck Dali prefecture, Yunnan province, China; the maximum PGA reached 714.78 gal, causing 37 casualties and infrastructures damage. A field investigation demonstrated that seismic landslides were concentrated along the G56 Hangrui and Dayangyun highways, classified as local rock falls and shear slides. The shear slides were more severe than the local rock falls and were located along the Dayangyun highway, which was still under construction when the earthquake occurred, severely impacting following engineering activities. Typical shear slides caused by the earthquake were selected for detailed investigations; electrical resistivity topography (ERT) was conducted to study the failure mechanism. The ERT results indicated that the sliding surface was located at the interface between the overburden layer and the underlying rock stratum. The slope failures along the Dayangyun highway were characterized by several tensile cracks on the rear edge, a relatively short displacement, and an accumulation at the toe of the excavated slope where reinforcement measures had not yet been completed. The combined effect of engineering activities and a geological structure provided favorable conditions for slope failure. In addition, seismic motion triggered the landslides; however, engineering activity was a specific and significant factor contributing to the shear slides during the Yangbi earthquake. Excavation and incomplete construction reduced the stability of the overburden soil layer. Although the scale of the seismic landslides in the Yangbi earthquake was generally small, the coming rainy season after the earthquake may contribute for sliding again.

     

Topographic and geologic controls on landslides induced by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake and its aftershocks: an example from the Trishuli Valley,central Nepal

The devastating Gorkha earthquake (M _w 7.8) on April 25, 2015 and its aftershocks triggered numerous landslides across the Lesser and Higher Himalayas of central Nepal. This study aims to characterize these landslides, based on the local topography and geology, and to develop data for landslide hazard zoning. This study focused on a mountainous catchment of the Trishuli River, where a digital elevation model was used to examine hilllslope and river profiles, aerial photos were used to identify 155 coherent landslides, and satellite images were used to map 912 earthquake-induced landslides. The topography of this area is mainly characterized by incised V-shaped inner gorges and steep (> 35°) SW-facing scarp slopes. Although most of the coherent landslides were not reactivated by the earthquakes, the Gogane landslide was affected by the earthquake and partly failed. A majority of the earthquake-induced landslides (91%) were new landslides, while the others were enlarged old landslides. The earthquake-induced landslides occurred mainly on the steep slopes of V-shaped inner gorges and scarp slopes, in gneiss and quartzite strata of the Lesser Himalayas, and they were primarily associated with fractured rock masses. This analysis provides a framework for zoning areas vulnerable to earthquake-induced landslides.     

A method predicting the earthquake-induced landslide risk by back analyses of past landslides and its application in the region of the Wenchuan 12/5/2008 earthquake

The work considers critical slopes located at regions with high danger and proposes a method which approximately predicts the risk of earthquake-induced excessive movement of these slopes, in the case where relevant soil strength data along their slip surface do not exist. The method utilizes (1) simplified constitutive equations predicting soil response along slip surfaces and (2) a multi-block sliding system model, both recently proposed. It involves the following steps: (a) collect relevant topographic information and laboratory test results of past landslides at the region of interest, (b) (i) analyze the relevant laboratory tests to estimate the soil constitutive parameters and (ii) estimate the mobilized residual soil strength by back analysis of relevant past landslides, (c) select constitutive model parameters for future applications at the region based on step (b) and validate them based on analysis of the triggering of the past landslides and (d) apply the selected constitutive model parameters in critical slopes in the region under consideration to predict not only whether triggering occurs, but also the post-triggering slide deformation. The paper, after describing in detail the proposed method, applies it at the Wenchuan region, where the 12th May 2008 earthquake triggered many landslides. During the application, four ring shear test results and twelve landslides of the 12th May 2008 earthquake were considered. The application was successful and the following were observed: (i) in the back analyses, the multi-block model predicted reasonably well the final configuration of all slides, (ii) apart from two significantly larger back-estimated values of the residual soil strength, small scatter existed in the other back-estimated values and (iii) the selected model parameters were duly validated under step (c). Furthermore, as the back-estimated friction angle of most landslides was less than 18°, and the materials along the slip surface have a Liquid Limit value less than 25 %, it is inferred that some, or all of the slip surface during these slides, was sheared in an undrained manner.     

2013年7月22日岷县漳县MS6.6级地震滑坡编录与空间分布规律分析

2013年7月22日,中国甘肃省岷县漳县交界地区发生MS6.6级地震。地震触发了大量的滑坡,主要类型为小型的黄土崖崩、滑、倾,还有一些深层连贯型滑坡、大型土质流滑、侧向滑移等地震滑坡类型。本文主要基于地震滑坡野外考察与高分辨卫星影像人工目视解译方法,开展本次地震触发滑坡的编录图制作工作,并基于编录成果开展地震滑坡空间分布规律分析工作。滑坡编录结果表明此次地震至少触发了2330处滑坡。基于GIS平台下开展了地震滑坡与地形控制因子、地质控制因子与地震控制因子的关系统计。结果表明岷县漳县地震滑坡受地形因子的控制作用较小; 受地层岩性的控制作用较大。其中1401处滑坡(占总滑坡的60.13%)分布在下伏基岩为古近系下统地层(Eb)砾岩与砂岩的区域内,其中滑坡密度是所有地层分类中最高的,达到22.78个km-2。地震滑坡与PGA的统计关系并不明显。地震滑坡主要集中在一个与发震断层走向一致的长条形区域内,长约14km,宽约5km。该区域内滑坡数量为1864个,占所有滑坡数量的80%,表明了岷县漳县地震滑坡空间分布的密集特征。文章获得的基于地震事件的区域滑坡编录成果是后续地震滑坡相关科学研究的重要基础与核心数据; 空间分布规律分析成果可为地震区滑坡与泥石流防灾减灾提供科学参考。     

Analysis of the mechanisms of slope failures triggered by the 2007 Chuetsu Oki earthquake

The 2007 Chuetsu Oki earthquake (M_JMA = 6.6) triggered more than one hundred slope failures in the northwest part of Niigata prefecture, Japan. A reconnaissance survey conducted by the authors revealed that although most of the failures were only a few meters deep, they still caused significant damage to roads, railways, and houses. It was also found that a vast number of shallow slides were concentrated along the coastal line of the Japan Sea, while only few, but relatively larger failures occurred in a mountainous part of the study area, which is located in a considerable distance from the earthquake’s epicenter. This paper summarizes the reconnaissance observations, describes the geologic characteristics of the area covered by landslides, provides characterization of major types of the landslides, and examines the causes and mechanisms of typical failures. In addition, this paper seeks to investigate the mechanism of the Ohzumi landslide, the largest slide triggered by the Chuetsu Oki earthquake. For this purpose, a comprehensive analysis that included field investigation and laboratory testing of soils samples was performed. Results of field investigation suggested that the failure plane of the Ohzumi landslide formed in a saturated layer of sandy soil near a boundary with bedrock. Data from undrained cyclic loading triaxial compression tests indicated that the sandy material was highly susceptible to generation of high excess pore-water pressures during earthquake loading. On the basis of the obtained results and the outcome of seismic response and slope stability analyses, the authors posited an explanation on the mechanism of the Ohzumi landslide.     

Using multiple logistic regression and GIS technology to predict landslide hazard in northeast Kansas, USA

Landslides in the hilly terrain along the Kansas and Missouri rivers in northeastern Kansas have caused millions of dollars in property damage during the last decade. To address this problem, a statistical method called multiple logistic regression has been used to create a landslide-hazard map for Atchison, Kansas, and surrounding areas. Data included digitized geology, slopes, and landslides, manipulated using ArcView GIS. Logistic regression relates predictor variables to the occurrence or nonoccurrence of landslides within geographic cells and uses the relationship to produce a map showing the probability of future landslides, given local slopes and geologic units. Results indicated that slope is the most important variable for estimating landslide hazard in the study area. Geologic units consisting mostly of shale, siltstone, and sandstone were most susceptible to landslides. Soil type and aspect ratio were considered but excluded from the final analysis because these variables did not significantly add to the predictive power of the logistic regression. Soil types were highly correlated with the geologic units, and no significant relationships existed between landslides and slope aspect.     

Some catastrophic landslides since the twentieth century in the southwest of China

Landslides occur frequently in China. Especially, in the western part of China, large-scale landslides are notable for their scale, complex formation mechanism, and serious destruction. This paper presents some typical large-scale landslides that occurred in the southwest of China since the beginning of the twentieth century but were rarely reported worldwide. These cases represent different geological conditions and different triggering factors and mechanisms. The analysis shows that about 80% of large-scale landslides occurred in the first slope-descending zone along the eastern margin of Tibet Plateau, which is tectonically very active. The intensive interactions between the endogenic and epigenetic geological process cause serious dynamic change on the high steep slope and then result in the development of large-scale landslides. Strong earthquakes are also common in this area, and repetitive seismic activities make the slopes unstable and more vulnerable to failures. Besides earthquake, the area also experiences high rainfall, which is also responsible for triggering some of the large landslides.     

Spatial distribution of landslides induced by the 2004 Mid-Niigata prefecture earthquake,Japan

On October 23, 2004, an earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.8 occurred in the Chuetsu area of Niigata prefecture in Japan. This earthquake is known as the 2004 Mid-Niigata prefecture earthquake; the event was followed by severe aftershocks and caused many types of landslides such as surficial slides, shallow slides, and deep slides. A large number of landslides occurred in the upland village of Yamakoshi, destroying the entire village; in addition, a huge number of houses collapsed in Kawaguchi town. This study investigates the correlations between each type of landslide and the bedding plane orientation and dip, and other geomorphologic conditions. The landslide occurrence ratio (LOR) is used as an index to determine the correlation between the 2004 Mid-Niigata prefecture earthquake-induced landslides and the slope angle, slope aspect, rock type, and bedding plane orientation and dip. This work also proposes a methodology to determine the geometric alignment between the topography and the orientation of geological bedding planes. The method provides an efficient means of estimating the topography/bedding plane relationship over large areas.     

Formation process of two massive dams following rainfall-induced deep-seated rapid landslide failures in the Kii Peninsula of Japan

Extreme heavy rainfall due to Typhoon Talas on September 2–4, 2011 in the Kii Peninsula, Japan, triggered numerous floods and landslides. This study investigates the mechanism and the entire process of rainfall-induced deep-seated landslides forming two massive dams in the Kuridaira and Akatani valleys, respectively. The mechanism of the rapid deep-seated landslides is examined through a series of laboratory experiments on samples from sliding surfaces by using undrained high-stress dynamic-loading ring-shear apparatus. The test results indicate that the failure of samples is triggered by excess pore water pressure generation under a shear displacement from 2 to 7 mm with a pore pressure ratio ranging from 0.33 to 0.37. The rapid movement of landslides is mainly attributed to high mobility due to the liquefaction behavior of both sandstone-rich and shale samples. Geomorphic settings and landslide mobility are major contributing factors to the dam formation. Additionally, shear displacement control tests show that a certain amount of shear displacement between 2 and 7 mm along the sliding surfaces of the gravitationally deformed slopes might have led to the failures. Importantly, computer simulation with LS-RAPID software using input parameters obtained from physical experiments is employed to interpret the entire formation process of the abovementioned two landslide dams. The simulation results are examined in accordance with the observed on-site geomorphic features and recorded data to explain the possibility of sliding processes. The results further point out that local failures are initiated from the lower middle part of the landslide bodies where the geological boundary exists. This condition most probably influences the landslide initiation in the two case studies. This research is therefore helpful for hazard assessment of slopes that are susceptible to deep-seated landslides and other sequential processes in areas with geology and geomorphology similar to that of the Kii Peninsula.     

Earthquake triggered landslide–Indian scenario

Landslide initiation due to earthquake is one of the most prevalent seismic hazard, which claims hundreds of lives in the Himalayan mountainous terrains of India. Number of landslides, maximum distance from the epicentre and total landslide area/volume are correlatable with earthquake magnitudes. Application of globally accepted earthquake triggered landslide parameter models do not match well with published data for the Himalayan earthquake triggered landslides. Considering the incompleteness of landslide inventories for most of the Himalayan earthquakes, development of regression equations show that in the Himalayan environment, landslide may trigger even with imperciptable earthquakes affecting longer distances having earthquake magnitude of more than 8 M with potential to affect more areas than the global expectations.     

Identification of shear strength and seismic coefficient by back analyzing surficial slides in the 2004 Mid-Niigata prefecture earthquake

Sliding of natural and artificial slopes generally occurs during or following strong earthquakes. Such sliding is greatly affected by a combination of geological conditions and earthquake loading. Earthquake-induced landslides often cause more damage to infrastructure and human lives than the earthquake itself. Pseudo-static analysis is widely implemented as one of several design methods used in engineering practice to assess the seismic stability of natural and artificial slopes. However, the most important issue of pseudo-static analysis is to select the most appropriate method for measuring seismic coefficient. In order to investigate this, back analysis was conducted for surficial slides subjected to strong ground motion during the 2004 Mid-Niigata prefecture earthquake in Japan. This paper surveyed the stochastic properties of earthquake-induced surficial slides and clearly showed that the obtained results were applicable to back analysis of shear strength and seismic coefficient. In back analysis, soil properties such as soil strength and density and sliding depth were assumed as random variables owing to their uncertainties. Seismic coefficient is also assumed to be a random variable and varies with distance from the epicenter fault line. The analysis of 4504 recorded surficial slides clearly shows a unique relationship of landslide occurrence ratio with slope angle and distance from the epicenter fault line. This study’s results enhance the calculation of the shear strength of weathered soil covering slopes and the horizontal seismic coefficient through back analysis procedure. By considering possible stochastic properties of variables, some case studies were implemented in the back analysis.