Landslide databases in the Geological Surveys of Europe

Landslides are one of the most widespread geohazards in Europe, producing significant social and economic impacts. Rapid population growth in urban areas throughout many countries in Europe and extreme climatic scenarios can considerably increase landslide risk in the near future. Variability exists between European countries in both the statutory treatment of landslide risk and the use of official assessment guidelines. This suggests that a European Landslides Directive that provides a common legal framework for dealing with landslides is necessary. With this long-term goal in mind, this work analyzes the landslide databases from the Geological Surveys of Europe focusing on their interoperability and completeness. The same landslide classification could be used for the 849,543 landslide records from the Geological Surveys, from which 36% are slides, 10% are falls, 20% are flows, 11% are complex slides, and 24% either remain unclassified or correspond to another typology. Most of them are mapped with the same symbol at a scale of 1:25,000 or greater, providing the necessary information to elaborate European-scale susceptibility maps for each landslide type. A landslide density map was produced for the available records from the Geological Surveys (LANDEN map) showing, for the first time, 210,544 km² landslide-prone areas and 23,681 administrative areas where the Geological Surveys from Europe have recorded landslides. The comparison of this map with the European landslide susceptibility map (ELSUS 1000 v1) is successful for most of the territory (69.7%) showing certain variability between countries. This comparison also permitted the identification of 0.98 Mkm² (28.9%) of landslide-susceptible areas without records from the Geological Surveys, which have been used to evaluate the landslide database completeness. The estimated completeness of the landslide databases (LDBs) from the Geological Surveys is 17%, varying between 1 and 55%. This variability is due to the different landslide strategies adopted by each country. In some of them, landslide mapping is systematic; others only record damaging landslides, whereas in others, landslide maps are only available for certain regions or local areas. Moreover, in most of the countries, LDBs from the Geological Surveys co-exist with others owned by a variety of public institutions producing LDBs at variable scales and formats. Hence, a greater coordination effort should be made by all the institutions working in landslide mapping to increase data integration and harmonization.     

Climates of the Earth and Cryosphere Evolution

The interrelationship between the cryosphere and the climate is not always operating on Earth over a scale of billions or millions of years. Indeed, most of the time, the Earth is regulated at temperatures such that no ice sheet exists. Nevertheless, it is very fruitful to understand the conditions where and when ice sheets were triggered during the Earth??s history. This paper deals with the paleoclimate and the cryosphere in the last 4.6 Ga and explains the different processes that make the climate of the first 4 billion years warm despite the weaker solar luminosity. We also describe the more recent evolution in the last 65 million years when a global decrease in atmospheric CO₂ from around 4 PAL to 1 PAL was associated with a global cooling (1 PAL present atmospheric level = 280 ppm). It is in this context that the Quaternary occurred characterized by low atmospheric CO₂ and the presence of two perennial ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. The last million years are certainly the most documented since direct and reliable CO₂ measurements are available. They are characterized by a complex climate/cryosphere dynamics leading to oscillations between long glacial periods with four ice sheets and shorter ones with only two ice sheets (interglacial). We are currently living in one of those interglacials, generally associated with a CO₂ level of 280 ppm. Presently, anthropogenic activities are seriously perturbing the carbon cycle and the atmospheric CO₂ content and therefore the climate. The last but not least question raised in this paper is to investigate whether the anthropogenic perturbation may lead to a melting of the ice sheets.     

Characterizing and Locating Very Weak (−2.2 ≥ M L ≥ −3.4) Induced Seismicity in Unstable Sandstone Cliffs by Nanoseismic Monitoring

Unloaded natural rock masses are known to generate seismic signals (Green et al., 2006; Hainzl et al., 2006; Husen et al., 2007; Kraft et al., 2006). Following a 1,000 m³ mass failure into the Mediterranean Sea, centimeter-wide tensile cracks were observed to have developed on top of an unstable segment of the coastal cliff. Nanoseismic monitoring techniques (Wust-Bloch and Joswig, 2006; Joswig, 2008), which function as a seismic microscope for extremely weak seismic events, were applied to verify whether brittle failure is still generated within this unconsolidated sandstone mass and to determine whether it can be detected. Sixteen days after the initial mass failure, three small-aperture sparse arrays (Seismic Navigation Systems-SNS) were deployed on top of this 40-m high shoreline cliff. This paper analyzes dozens of spiky nanoseismic (?2.2 ≥ M _L ≥ ?3.4) signals recorded over one night in continuous mode (at 200 Hz) at very short slant distances (3–67 m). Waveform characterization by sonogram analysis (Joswig, 2008) shows that these spiky signals are all short in duration (>0.5 s). Most of their signal energy is concentrated in the 10–75 Hz frequency range and the waveforms display high signal similarity. The detection threshold of the data set reaches M _L ?3.4 at 15 m and M _L ?2.7 at 67 m. The spatial distribution of source signals shows 3-D clustering within 10 m from the cliff edge. The time distribution of M _L magnitude does not display any decay pattern of M _L over time. This corroborates an unusual event decay over time (modified Omori’s law), whereby an initial quiet period is followed by regained activity, which then fades again. The polarization of maximal waveform amplitude was used to estimate spatial stress distribution. The orientation of ellipses displaying maximal signal energy is consistent with that of tensile cracks observed in the field and agrees with rock mechanics predictions. The M _L– surface rupture length relationship displayed by our data fits a constant-slope extrapolation of empirical data collected by Wells and Coppersmith (1994) for normal fault features at much larger scale. Signal characterization and location as well as the absence of direct anthropogenic noise sources near the monitoring site, all indicate that these nanoseismic signals are generated by brittle failure within the top section of the cliff. The atypical event decay over time that was observed suggests that the cliff material is undergoing post-collapse bulk strain accommodation. This feasibility study demonstrates the potential of nanoseismic monitoring in rapidly detecting, locating and analyzing brittle failure generated within unconsolidated material before total collapse occurs.     

Estimation of the total sediment discharge in natural stream flows using a depth-integrated sampler

: This paper analyzes concentration and velocity profiles measured in small irrigation canals in Pakistan. Theoretical profiles are developed and calibrated from field data. A procedure, applicable in any open channel, is proposed to make up complete profiles when only average values for the velocity and the concentration are known. These profiles are used to estimate the sediment load in the unsampled layer of depth-integrated samples. Generally, the correction is higher for shallow sections, but since the particle diameter is rather small, it is seldom more than 40%. Finally, a theoretical estimation of the bed load is made on the various sites comparing the Van Rijn and Bagnold formulae.     

New palaeontological data from the organic-rich layers of the Bathonian of the Grands Causses (France)

The palaeontological content (charophytes and vertebrates) of organic-rich layers from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) of the Grands Causses at Mostuéjouls (Aveyron, France) has been examined. It is rich in gyrogonites of Porochara douzensis. The vertebrates of the lower layer include a single hybodontiform tooth, “semionotiform” teeth and scales, and one pycnodontiform tooth whereas the upper layer has yielded one hybodontiform tooth, a variety of actinopterygian remains (mostly Caturus sp. and indeterminate pycnodontiforms) and a few possible reptile remains. The variation in fauna between the two layers is ascribed to a different degree of marine influence.     

Influence of observed and RCM-simulated precipitation on the water discharge over the Sirba basin, Burkina Faso/Niger

The forcing of a hydrologic model (ABC) by both observed and simulated precipitation from a regional climate model (MAR) has been performed over the Sirba watershed (39,000 km²) located in the Sahelian region. Two aspects have been more specifically examined: the spatial and temporal representations of precipitation. The comparison between simulated and observed discharges—using observed rainfall datasets as forcing of the hydrologic model—has shown that the representation of daily precipitation (which is mainly convective in the Sahelian region) was not sufficiently accurate to correctly simulate the hydrologic response of the watershed. Since this response drives the soil water budget and consequently the amount of evaporation in forthcoming coupling experiments, it is thus necessary to develop more realistic infra-daily precipitation associated with convective events. A new temporal disaggregation scheme has been then developed. Considering observed as well as simulated precipitation fields, this method has significantly improved the simulated discharge at the catchment outlet. The major role played by the temporal component compared to spatial component of the precipitation has been then underlined. In addition, the present study shows the unsuitability of the simulated precipitation from the RCM to directly force a hydrologic model at infra daily timescale even if the cumulative amount and the main features of the precipitation seasonal cycle are well simulated.     

Contamination by heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, and Hg) of eight fish species in the Gironde estuary (France)

The Gironde estuary, one of the largest in Europe, is considerated as a reference ecological system, with all the western European diadromous fish species present. The national biomonitoring program on the coastal marine environment has revealed since 1979 severe metal pollution (mostly cadmium [Cd]) in oysters collected from the estuary. No data are available on metal contamination levels in fish, despite their ecological and economic importance. We present the results from a detailed study based on 4 metals (Cd, zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], and mercury [Hg]) measured in 4 organs (gills, dorsal skeletal muscle, liver, and kidneys) from 8 fish species illustrating several ecological combinations: European eel (Anguilla anguilla), twaite shad (Alosa fallax), bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), meagre (Argyrosomus regius), flounder (Platichthys flesus),, thin-lippid grey mullet (Liza ramada), sole (Solea vulgaris), and Canary drum (Umbrina canariensis). The results show very marked differences between species and organs, as well as very significant variations between the 4 metals. Although metal concentrations measured in fish muscle are low, except in the case of Hg for theA. fallax, high levels of Cu and Cd were observed in the kidneys and livers ofL. ramada andA. anguilla. A multifactorial analysis based on rank ordered metal concentrations for the 8 fish species clearly shows 4 clusters of species assigned to the different degrees of metal contamination, from the lowest contaminated (A. regius, D. labrax, S. vulgaris, andU. canariensis), to the most contaminated group (L. ramada). The most contaminated species (L. ramada, A. angailla, andP. flesus) are characterized by long residence times in the estuary, between 3.5 and 14 yr. ForL. ramada, biofilms with high metal storage capacities would be the principal uptake route; the two other species are benthic with a carnivorous regime. Comparisons between our data and four estuaries (Seine, France; Mersey, U.K.; La Plata, Argentina; Guadalquivir, Spain), on a limited number of common species, metals and fish organs, clearly reveal higher Cd bioaccumulation levels in the Gironde estuary.     

Remote Sensing Observations of Effects of Mountain Blocking on Travelling Gravity-Shear Waves and Associated Clouds

Trapped Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) waves and vortices were monitored as they were generated immediately upwind of a mountain and driven into the barrier by a low-level jet. A stratus cloud visually revealed the embedded, propagating, gravity-shear waves. Interactions of the waves with the mountain were deciphered using remote sensing measurements of the structure, motions, and microphysics within the cloud and conceptual models based on existing theories. The observations show that the mountain acted as a dam to the flow that was primed for, but did not spontaneously induce, the waves. In response to the blocking, the waves spatially developed a pattern of formation, amplification, and breakdown between the upstream flow and the barrier, and altered the associated clouds in the process. Notably, radar signatures of velocity variance depicted organized, intertwined ribbons of relatively large vorticity within the wave layer. These provided measured evidence of the vortex sheet and streamwise vortex tubes predicted by advanced K–Hinstability theory, the three-dimensional version of Scorer's `stripe', the layer of rotational fluid between opposed flows that led to the wave generation. A theory of resonant interaction of wave trains, but with blocking imposed, appears to explain the internal structure of the pile-up of the flow and wave amplification approaching the barrier. Evolution of the supporting atmospheric thermal structure and introduction of a boundary-layer flow reversal follow a current model of blocking, although some features may have developed more directly from wave-driven mixing. The remote sensors also measured the influence of the waves on the cloud liquid water, including a cumulative enlargement of droplets as they were carried through a series of waves.     

Mitigating systematic error in topographic models for geomorphic change detection: accuracy,precision and considerations beyond off-nadir imagery

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and structure-from-motion photogrammetry enable detailed quantification of geomorphic change. However, rigorous precision-based change detection can be compromised by survey accuracy problems producing systematic topographic error (e.g. ‘doming’), with error magnitudes greatly exceeding precision estimates. Here, we assess survey sensitivity to systematic error, directly correcting topographic data so that error magnitudes align more closely with precision estimates. By simulating conventional grid-style photogrammetric aerial surveys, we quantify the underlying relationships between survey accuracy, camera model parameters, camera inclination, tie point matching precision and topographic relief, and demonstrate a relative insensitivity to image overlap. We show that a current doming-mitigation strategy of using a gently inclined (<15°) camera can reduce accuracy by promoting a previously unconsidered correlation between decentring camera lens distortion parameters and the radial terms known to be responsible for systematic topographic error. This issue is particularly relevant for the wide-angle cameras often integrated into current-generation, accessible UAV systems, frequently used in geomorphic research. Such systems usually perform on-board image pre-processing, including applying generic lens distortion corrections, that subsequently alter parameter interrelationships in photogrammetric processing (e.g. partially correcting radial distortion, which increases the relative importance of decentring distortion in output images). Surveys from two proglacial forefields (Arolla region, Switzerland) showed that results from lower-relief topography with a 10°-inclined camera developed vertical systematic doming errors > 0·3 m, representing accuracy issues an order of magnitude greater than precision-based error estimates. For higher-relief topography, and for nadir-imaging surveys of the lower-relief topography, systematic error was < 0·09 m. Modelling and subtracting the systematic error directly from the topographic data successfully reduced error magnitudes to values consistent with twice the estimated precision. Thus, topographic correction can provide a more robust approach to uncertainty-based detection of event-scale geomorphic change than designing surveys with small off-nadir camera inclinations and, furthermore, can substantially reduce ground control requirements. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd     

A GIS‐based Vehicle Mobility Estimator for Operational Contexts

A vehicle mobility estimator has been developed to produce decision aid maps for projecting civil or military forces on operational theatres. Based on the exploitation of classical geographical sources (e.g. digital elevation models, optical images, and vector databases) and thematic sources (e.g. climate, meteorological, pedological and land cover databases), the system computes speed maps for different kinds of vehicles moving both on‐road and off‐road. Such computations are realized through a ground‐vehicle interaction module that estimates the vehicle performance from experimental results, numerical simulations and empirical relationships. The system's architecture is built using a GIS interface that manages the data, the computation and the presentation layers. An operational version of this tool has been tested and validated on several operational theatres in France and in northern Africa. The results show good agreement between the predicted mobility performance of various vehicles and those observed on the field. A case study is presented to illustrate the mobility maps and demonstrate their relevance in the decision‐making chain depending on different climate contexts. A short application to itinerary optimization is presented as a promising future application.