New data and interpretations of the shallow and deep deformation of Huangtupo No. 1 riverside sliding mass during seasonal rainfall and water level fluctuation

The original Badong County, Hubei, China, was mainly below the highest water level of the Three Gorges Reservoir, which is 175 m above sea level. The new downtown of Badong was rebuilt in the Huangtupo area between 1982 and 1991. After detailed geological investigation in the Huangtupo area, four independent landslides were identified, making it one of the largest and most harmful landslide group in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. Since 2003, abundant data have been obtained from the Huangtupo No. 1 sliding mass about rainfall, water level, earth surface deformation and deep deformation. The monitoring data indicate that the earth surface and deep deformation of this landslide is closely related to the seasonal rainfall and water level fluctuation of the reservoir. During increases in the water level, the earth surface deformation velocity decreases, and then increases obviously in the subsequent water level decreasing stage. Because the water level drawdown period overlaps with the rainy season in this area, the earth surface deformation is affected by both rainfall and water level. The deformation velocity of the earth surface caused by rainfall is about 5 mm/month, while that caused by water level decrease is 5–7 mm/month. On the contrary, the deformation velocity of the deep sliding mass accelerates 2 to 3 times faster than average during water level increase. The distinction of surface and deep deformation regulations indicates that the effects of seasonal rainfall and water level fluctuation on the stability of reservoir wading landslides are different. Based on all monitoring data, we also found that the Huangtupo No. 1 riverside sliding mass is creeping seasonally during the seasonal rainfall and periodic reservoir water level fluctuation. The deformation velocities of the east regions of the sliding body indicate acceleration, making these regions even more dangerous.