Weathering and landslide occurrences in parts of Western Ghats,Kerala |
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Authors: | K S Sajinkumar S Anbazhagan A P Pradeepkumar V R Rani |
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Institution: | (1) United Nations University-ITC School for Disaster Geo-Information Management, International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Hengelosestraat 99, P.O. Box 6, 7500AA Enschede, The Netherlands;(2) Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India;(3) Geological Survey of India (GSI), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India |
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Abstract: | The climatic condition of Western Ghats has influenced the process of weathering and landslides in this mountainous tract
along the southwest coast of India. During the monsoon period, landslides are a common in the Western Ghats, and its intensity
depends upon the thickness of the loose unconsolidated soil formed by the process of weathering. Debris landslides with a
combination of saprock, saprolite and soil, indicate the role of weathering in landslide occurrences. This paper reports on
how the weathering in the windward slope of Western Ghats influences the occurrence of landslides and the factors which accelerate
the weathering process. Rock and soil samples were collected from the weathering profile of hornblende gniess and granite
gneiss. The chemical analysis and the calculated Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) indicate the significant weathering and
its possible influence on landslide occurrences in the study area. Mainly, the CIA value of lateritic soil and forest loam
indicated the extent of high chemical weathering in this region. Rainfall is the dominant parameter influencing the chemical
weathering process. In addition, deforestation, land use practices and soil erosion are some of the other important factors
accelerating the weathering process and landslide occurrences in the region. The locations of the previous landslides superimposed
on geology and soil show that most of the landslide occurrences are associated with the highly weathered zone, particularly
lateritic soil and the ‘severe’ (rock outcrop) erodability zone. |
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