Preliminary investigation of some large landslides triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province, China

The M _s 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake or “Great Sichuan Earthquake” occurred at 14:28 p.m. local time on 12 May 2008 in Sichuan Province, China. Damage by earthquake-induced landslides was an important part of the total earthquake damage. This report presents preliminary observations on the Hongyan Resort slide located southwest of the main epicenter, shallow mountain surface failures in Xuankou village of Yingxiu Town, the Jiufengchun slide near Longmenshan Town, the Hongsong Hydro-power Station slide near Hongbai Town, the Xiaojiaqiao slide in Chaping Town, two landslides in Beichuan County-town which destroyed a large part of the town, and the Donghekou and Shibangou slides in Qingchuan County which formed the second biggest landslide lake formed in this earthquake. The influences of seismic, topographic, geologic, and hydro-geologic conditions are discussed.     

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.

     

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.     

Statistical analysis of landslides caused by the Mw 6.9 Yushu,China, earthquake of April 14, 2010

The April 14, 2010 Yushu, China, earthquake (Mw 6.9) triggered a great number of landslides. At least 2,036 co-seismic landslides, with a total coverage area of 1.194 km², were delineated by visual interpretation of aerial photographs and satellite images taken following the earthquake, and verified by field inspection. Based on the mapping results, a statistical analysis of the spatial distribution of these landslides is performed using the landslide area percentage (LAP), defined as the percentage of the area affected by the landslides, and landslide number density (LND), defined as the number of landslides per square kilometer. The purpose is to clarify how the landslides correlate the control factors, which are the elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, slope position, distance from drainages, lithology, distance from the surface rupture, and peak ground acceleration (PGA). The results show that both LAP and LND have strongly positive correlations with slope angle and negative correlations with distance from the surface rupture and distance from drainages. The highest LAP and LPD values are in places of elevations from 3,800 to 4,000 m. The slopes producing landslides are mostly facing toward NE, E, and SE. The geological units of Q₄ al-pl, N, and T₃ kn ¹ have the highest concentrations of co-seismic landslides. No apparent correlations are present between LAP and LND values and PGA. On both sides of the surface rupture, the landslide distributions are almost similar except a few exceptions, likely associated with the nature of the strike-slip seismogenic fault for this event. The bivariate statistical analysis shows that, in descending order, the earthquake-triggered landslide impact factors are distance from surface rupture > slope angle > distance from drainages > lithology > PGA. Besides, as the detailed co-seismic landslides inventories related to strike-slip earthquakes are still few compared with that of thrusting-fault earthquakes, this case study would shed new light on the subject. For instance, the landslide spatial distribution on both sides of the strike-slip seismogenic fault is rather different from that of thrusting-fault earthquakes. It reminds us to take different strategies of measures for prevention and mitigation of landslides induced by earthquakes with different mechanisms.     

四川汶川Ms 8 级地震引发的滑坡与地层岩性、坡度的相关性

震后遥感影像解译与调查结果表明,在大约48678km2的区域内,汶川Ms 8.0级地震诱发了不低于48000处滑坡灾害。基于GIS的空间分析方法,使用滑坡面积百分比(LAR)与滑坡密度(LC)2个参数,对地震滑坡的空间分布与地层岩性、坡度之间的关系进行统计分析。在整个研究区范围内,滑坡面积百分比约为1.4622%,滑坡密度约为0.9862个/km2。结果表明,滑坡多发生在坡度25~50°的区域内,滑坡易发性随着坡度的增加而升高。寒武纪地层中滑坡易发性最大,LAR约10%,LC约6.5个/km2,震旦系、奥陶系和侵入岩次之,这些地层和岩石对地震滑坡的发生均是敏感的。综合分析坡度、地层岩性与滑坡空间分布的关系,结果表明,在以较破碎岩石为主的地层中,滑坡多发生在坡度小于30°的部位;在以较坚硬岩石为主的地层中,滑坡多发生在坡度大于40°的部位。     

Spatial distribution analysis and susceptibility mapping of landslides triggered before and after Mw7.8 Gorkha earthquake along Upper Bhote Koshi,Nepal

The 2015 Mw7.8 Gorkha earthquake triggered thousands of landslides of various types scattered over a large area. In the current study, we utilized pre- and post-earthquake high-resolution satellite imagery to compile two landslide inventories before and after earthquake and prepared three landslide susceptibility maps within 404 km² area using frequency ratio (FR) model. From the study, we could map about 519 landslides including 178 pre-earthquake slides and 341 coseismic slides were identified. This study investigated the relationship between landslide occurrence and landslide causative factors, i.e., slope, aspect, altitude, plan curvature, lithology, land use, distance from streams, distance from road, distance from faults, and peak ground acceleration. The analysis showed that the majority of landslides both pre-earthquake and coseismic occurred at slope >30°, preferably in S, SE, and SW directions and within altitude ranging from 1000 to 1500 m and 1500 to 3500 m. Scatter plots between number of landslides per km^?2 (LN) and percentage of landslide area (LA) and causative factors indicate that slope is the most influencing factor followed by lithology and PGA for the landslide formation. Higher landslide susceptibility before earthquake is observed along the road and rivers, whereas landslides after earthquake are triggered at steeper slopes and at higher altitudes. Combined susceptibility map indicates the effect of topography, geology, and land cover in the triggering of landslides in the entire basin. The resultant landslide susceptibility maps are verified through AUC showing success rates of 78, 81, and 77%, respectively. These susceptibility maps are helpful for engineers and planners for future development work in the landslide prone area.     

四川汶川Ms 8 级地震引发的滑坡与地层岩性、坡度的相关性

震后遥感影像解译与调查结果表明,在大约48678km2的区域内,汶川Ms 8.0级地震诱发了不低于48000处滑坡灾害。基于GIS的空间分析方法,使用滑坡面积百分比(LAR)与滑坡密度(LC)2个参数,对地震滑坡的空间分布与地层岩性、坡度之间的关系进行统计分析。在整个研究区范围内,滑坡面积百分比约为1.4622%,滑坡密度约为0.9862个/km2。结果表明,滑坡多发生在坡度25~50°的区域内,滑坡易发性随着坡度的增加而升高。寒武纪地层中滑坡易发性最大,LAR约10%,LC约6.5个/km2,震旦系、奥陶系和侵入岩次之,这些地层和岩石对地震滑坡的发生均是敏感的。综合分析坡度、地层岩性与滑坡空间分布的关系,结果表明,在以较破碎岩石为主的地层中,滑坡多发生在坡度小于30°的部位;在以较坚硬岩石为主的地层中,滑坡多发生在坡度大于40°的部位。     

Interpretation of earthquake-induced landslides triggered by the 12 May 2008, M7.9 Wenchuan earthquake in the Beichuan area, Sichuan Province, China using satellite imagery and Google Earth

The 12 May 2008 M7.9 Wenchuan earthquake in the People’s Republic of China represented a unique opportunity for the international community to use commonly available GIS (Geographic Information System) tools, like Google Earth (GE), to rapidly evaluate and assess landslide hazards triggered by the destructive earthquake and its aftershocks. In order to map earthquake-triggered landslides, we provide details on the applicability and limitations of publicly available 3-day-post- and pre-earthquake imagery provided by GE from the FORMOSAT-2 (formerly ROCSAT-2; Republic of China Satellite 2). We interpreted landslides on the 8-m-resolution FORMOSAT-2 image by GE; as a result, 257 large landslides were mapped with the highest concentration along the Beichuan fault. An estimated density of 0.3 landslides/km² represents a minimum bound on density given the resolution of available imagery; higher resolution data would have identified more landslides. This is a preliminary study, and further study is needed to understand the landslide characteristics in detail. Although it is best to obtain landslide locations and measurements from satellite imagery having high resolution, it was found that GE is an effective and rapid reconnaissance tool.     

坡脚型与偏转型地震滑坡运动距离及地形因素作用

运动距离作为滑坡防灾减灾的主要评价指标之一,不仅受到滑坡体积和落差的控制,还与滑坡的下垫面场地的地形作用相关。通过分析坡脚型和偏转型两类典型的地震滑坡运动特征,研究了滑坡体积V、落差 、坡度差 和偏转角度 对最大垂直运动距离H、水平运动距离L以及坡脚以下或偏转后的水平运动距离 的作用。由于偏转型滑坡受偏转前、后坡度和偏转角度对运动距离的共同影响,导致 指标小于坡脚型滑坡,而两类滑坡的 的均值较为一致,表明地形因素对不同类型滑坡的水平运动参数的作用具有一致性特征。分别建立了体积、落差与地形参数的坡脚型和偏转型滑坡运动距离拟合方程。拟合方程的参数指标表明：体积对H的作用指数较小,体现了高位滑坡的运动特征; 对 的影响指数较小;坡脚型滑坡的坡度 对运动距离的影响指数都较为显著,偏转角度 对偏转型滑坡的 的影响较为显著。研究结果为滑坡运动距离的预测和地形因素控制提供了参考,并且对于坡脚型和偏转型滑坡运动距离的模拟和机制研究而言,不应忽略坡脚坡度差和偏转角度的作用。     

2021年5月22日青海玛多MS 7. 4地震地表破裂带及发震构造

2021年5月22日2时4分,青海省果洛藏族自治州玛多县发生了MS 7.4级强烈地震,震中位于巴颜喀拉地块北部边界东昆仑断裂带以南约70 km左右(34.59°N,98.34°E),震源深度17 km.震后的野外现场考察表明,这次地震在海拔4200～4600 m的高原面上形成了一系列由张裂隙、张剪裂隙、剪切裂隙、挤压鼓包和裂陷等多类型破裂雁行状组合而成的复杂同震地表变形带,总体表现为左行走滑运动性质,局部略带正断分量.该破裂带主要沿东昆仑断裂带南部的江错断裂分布,整体呈N105°E走向,全长约151 km.根据破裂带的走向变化和阶区特征,可将其分为四段:西段、中西段、中东段和东段.其中西段分叉为南、北两支,北支破裂走向N112°E,呈不连续分布,长约18 km,南支走向N94°E,呈连续性分布,长约25 km,最大左行位错约2.9 m;中西段全长约52 km,主要由约22 km长、呈N109°E走向的连续分布的地表破裂与稍北分布约30 km长、不连续分布的两支破裂组合而成,最大左行位错约1.9 m;中东段为总体呈N104°E走向的不连续地表破裂,全长约51 km,其中包含长约20 km的破裂空区;东段分叉为北、中、南三支,北支为走向N84°E、长约23 km的连续性破裂,最大左行位错约1.8 m,中间一支为N110°E走向、长约14 km的不连续破裂,南支则表现为零星破裂及系列滑塌,走向N120°E,长约6 km.这种两端发育较大规模分叉的"扫帚"状同震地表破裂在青藏高原已发生的走滑型地震中尚未报道过.这次地震的发震断裂为江错断裂,该断裂向西延伸可与2001年东昆仑MS 8.1地震的发震断层昆仑山口断裂相接,表明昆仑山口-江错断裂带与北部东昆仑断裂带中东部的托索湖-玛沁断裂挤压弯曲段共同构成了巴颜喀拉地块北部的宽阔边缘断裂带,并与南部的玉树-甘孜-鲜水河断裂带协同运动,共同调节着巴颜喀拉地块向东的运动和形变.由于东昆仑断裂带东部的玛沁—玛曲段是历史地震空区,因此可能是未来强震发生的区段.同时需要考虑到近20多年以来,巴颜喀拉地块周缘的强震活动具有跳跃性特征.因此,在未来的强震危险性评价中,应重点关注巴颜喀拉地块北边界带中东段玛沁—玛曲段和南部边界带鲜水河断裂带等的强震活动性及危险性.     

Seismic hazard analysis and local site effect of the 2017 Mw 7.3 Sarpol-e Zahab,Iran, earthquake

Natural Hazards - A strong earthquake occurred on November 12, 2017, in Sarpol-e Zahab city, western Iran, with the moment magnitude ( $$M_{{\text{w}}}$$ ) of 7.3 and a focal depth of...     

The characteristics and failure mechanism of the largest landslide triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake, May 12, 2008, China

Strong earthquakes are among the prime triggering factors of landslides. The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (M _w = 7.9) triggered tens of thousands of landslides. Among them, the Daguangbao landslide is the largest one, which covered an area of 7.8 km² with a maximum width of 2.2 km and an estimated volume of 7.5 × 10⁸ m³. The landslide is located on the hanging wall of the seismogenic fault, the Yingxiu–Beichuan fault in Anxian town, Sichuan Province. The sliding mass travelled about 4.5 km and blocked the Huangdongzi valley, forming a landslide dam nearly 600 m high. Compared to other coseismic landslides in the study area, the Daguangbao landslide attained phenomenal kinetic energy, intense cracking, and deformation, exposing a 1-km long head scarp in the rear of the landslide. Based on the field investigation, we conclude that the occurrence of the landslide is controlled mainly by the seismic, terrain, and geological factors. The special location of the landslide and the possible topographic amplification of ground motions due to the terrain features governed the landslide failure. The effects of earthquakes on the stability of slopes were considered in two aspects: First, the ground shaking may reduce the frictional strength of the substrate by shattering of rock mass. Second, the seismic acceleration may result in short-lived and episodic changes of the normal (tensile) and shear stresses in the hillshopes during earthquakes. According to the failure mechanism, the dynamic process of the landslide might contain four stages: (a) the cracking of rock mass in the rear of the slope mainly due to the tensile stress generated by the ground shaking; (b) the shattering of the substrate due to the ground shaking, which reduced the frictional strength of the substrate; (c) the shearing failure of the toe of the landslide due to the large shear stress caused by the landslide gravity; and (d) the deposition stage.     

走滑断裂型地震诱发的滑坡在断裂两盘的空间分布差异

以玉树地震滑坡为实例,选择高程、坡度、坡向、坡位、水系、地层岩性、同震地表破裂、地震动峰值加速度(PGA)8个因子,以地震滑坡面积百分比(LAP)与滑坡点密度(LND)为指标,研究走滑断裂型地震诱发滑坡在断裂两盘的空间分布差异。在分析这些影响因子的断裂两盘的差异的基础上,基于LAP与LND两个指标详细分析断裂两盘每个因子内部级别滑坡发育的情况。结果表明,总体上北盘的滑坡较南盘发育,除了个别因子级别内南北盘滑坡差别较大外,大部分表现为南北盘滑坡分布情况类似。总之,玉树地震滑坡在断裂两盘的空间分布基本类似,只是在某些因子分级内存在一定的差异。     

走滑断裂型地震诱发的滑坡在断裂两盘的空间分布差异

以玉树地震滑坡为实例,选择高程、坡度、坡向、坡位、水系、地层岩性、同震地表破裂、地震动峰值加速度(PGA)8个因子,以地震滑坡面积百分比(LAP)与滑坡点密度(LND)为指标,研究走滑断裂型地震诱发滑坡在断裂两盘的空间分布差异。在分析这些影响因子的断裂两盘的差异的基础上,基于LAP与LND两个指标详细分析断裂两盘每个因子内部级别滑坡发育的情况。结果表明,总体上北盘的滑坡较南盘发育,除了个别因子级别内南北盘滑坡差别较大外,大部分表现为南北盘滑坡分布情况类似。总之,玉树地震滑坡在断裂两盘的空间分布基本类似,只是在某些因子分级内存在一定的差异。     

Vertical acceleration effect on landsides triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake,China

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake with Ms8.0 triggered extensive throwing-pattern landslides in the area within or near the seismic faults. The resultant landslides from this earthquake brought to the fore the effect of vertical earthquake acceleration on landslide occurrence. The pseudostatic analysis and the dynamic response on landslide stability due to the Wenchuan earthquake are studied with the Chengxi (West Town) catastrophic landslide used as a case study. The results show that the epicenter distance is an important factor which affects the vertical acceleration and thus the stability of landslide. Also, the vertical acceleration was found to have a significant impact on the FOS of landslide if the earthquake magnitude is quite large. Within the seismic fault, the amplitude effect of vertical acceleration is very dominant with the FOS of landslide, for vertical acceleration ranging from positive to negative, having a variation of 25 %. The variation of FOS of landslide for vertical acceleration ranging from positive to negative are 15 and 5 % for landslides near seismic fault and outside seismic fault, respectively. For landslide with a slope angle <45°, the FOS of landslide with both horizontal and vertical accelerations is significantly greater than the one without vertical acceleration. Further, the results computed from both the pseudostatic method and dynamic analysis reveal that the FOS during the earthquake varied significantly whether vertical acceleration is considered or not. The results from this study explain why lots of throwing-pattern catastrophic landslides occurred within 10 km of the seismic fault in the Wenchuan earthquake.     

青藏高原东缘深切河谷区古滑坡:判识、特征、时代与演化

青藏高原东缘是全球古滑坡最发育的地区之一。基于大量地面调查、遥感解译和年龄测试资料,总结了青藏高原东缘深切河谷区古滑坡的判识方法、主要发育特征、形成时代和分布规律。结果表明,古滑坡具有规模巨大、高位起动、物质组成和结构复杂等特征,其空间分布与地形地貌、岩性组合和活动构造等因素关系密切。古滑坡在区域上受气候变化影响较明显,一般形成于河流强烈下切阶段,与河流阶地具有较好的对应关系,多数已发现的古滑坡与T₂阶地时代相当,时间跨度为40~10 ka,集中分布于30~20 ka。构造活动和地震造成古滑坡在不同区段的分布具有差异性,一般在活动断裂带附近密集发育,现今发现的古滑坡多为这种成因。这些认识对于科学认知古滑坡的形成演化过程和未来巨灾风险预测具有重要的指导作用。