Seismically-induced landslides in Chile: New tools for hazard assessment and disaster prevention
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Geography
Abstract
Landslides are a major source of fatalities and damage related with strong earthquakes, particularly in mountain areas. Forecasting the distribution and impact of landslides induced by earthquakes is one of the greatest challenges in the earth sciences. The behavior of slopes during seismic excitation is exceptionally complex, being dependent upon geological, geomorphological, geotechnical and seismological factors. This project aims to identify the main characteristics of landslide occurrence during strong earthquakes in Chile, improving the understanding of their mechanics, spatial distribution and controlling factors, obtaining quantifiable inputs for the development of a methodology for earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment. This will be achieved through compiling and analyzing inventories for two Chilean earthquakes (Aysén 2007 and Maule 2010) to be compared with foreign landslide inventories; running a laboratory testing scheme in UK for better understanding of the mechanical causes of seismic slope failure; and applying those results on the development of a method for assessing the seismic stability of slopes in Chile. The new methodology will be verified in the Santiago region, which presents the highest population of the country and where an active fault has been recently discovered (San Ramón Fault). The outputs will include scientific publications, advanced human resource training as well as a new technique of hazard assessment applicable to urban/territorial planning and natural disaster prevention strategies in the country.
Planned Impact
Thus, at the end of each work package described in the Methodology section, we anticipate producing the following outputs:
Work Package One (WP1): compiling and analyzing inventories for two Chilean earthquakes
O1. Two new landslide inventories for earthquakes in Chile, both of which will be made available to other researchers;
O2: One or two papers, provisionally in the journals Geomorphology and/or Landslides, on the power law relationships for the Chile earthquake events, comparing these with pre-existing datasets and specifically exploring the role of depth and mechanism of rupture in determining the landslide distribution; and on the relationship between the landslide distribution and causative factors such as lithology, slope angle and relief.
Work Package Two (WP2): understanding the mechanical causes of seismic slope failure
O3. A new dataset on the behaviour of Chilean soils and weak rocks under static conditions and during seismic shaking'.
O4. A paper, provisionally to be published the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, on the behaviour of Chilean soils and rocks during seismic shaking. We will publish this as an open access publication to provide access to practitioners.
O5. A paper on the role of horizontal versus vertical shaking in promoting slope instability (provisionally to be published in Engineering Geology).
Work Package 3: Developing a methodology for assessing the seismic stability of slopes in Chile
O6. A new technique for the development of seismic slope stability maps for Chile. This output will be published in the form of a guidance note to be made freely available;
O7. A seismic slope stability map for the area close to the San Ramón Fault in Santiago, to be available for regional and local authorities.
O8. One or two publications, provisionally intended for Natural Hazards and Earth System Science (which is an open access journal) and/or Engineering Geology, on the on the back analysis of the landslide hazard associated with the 2007 Aysen and the 2010 Maule earthquakes, the development of a new technique for mapping seismic slope hazard and the resulting hazard map for San Ramón Fault in Santiago.
Work Package One (WP1): compiling and analyzing inventories for two Chilean earthquakes
O1. Two new landslide inventories for earthquakes in Chile, both of which will be made available to other researchers;
O2: One or two papers, provisionally in the journals Geomorphology and/or Landslides, on the power law relationships for the Chile earthquake events, comparing these with pre-existing datasets and specifically exploring the role of depth and mechanism of rupture in determining the landslide distribution; and on the relationship between the landslide distribution and causative factors such as lithology, slope angle and relief.
Work Package Two (WP2): understanding the mechanical causes of seismic slope failure
O3. A new dataset on the behaviour of Chilean soils and weak rocks under static conditions and during seismic shaking'.
O4. A paper, provisionally to be published the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, on the behaviour of Chilean soils and rocks during seismic shaking. We will publish this as an open access publication to provide access to practitioners.
O5. A paper on the role of horizontal versus vertical shaking in promoting slope instability (provisionally to be published in Engineering Geology).
Work Package 3: Developing a methodology for assessing the seismic stability of slopes in Chile
O6. A new technique for the development of seismic slope stability maps for Chile. This output will be published in the form of a guidance note to be made freely available;
O7. A seismic slope stability map for the area close to the San Ramón Fault in Santiago, to be available for regional and local authorities.
O8. One or two publications, provisionally intended for Natural Hazards and Earth System Science (which is an open access journal) and/or Engineering Geology, on the on the back analysis of the landslide hazard associated with the 2007 Aysen and the 2010 Maule earthquakes, the development of a new technique for mapping seismic slope hazard and the resulting hazard map for San Ramón Fault in Santiago.
Publications
Serey A
(2020)
Developing conceptual models for the recognition of coseismic landslides hazard for shallow crustal and megathrust earthquakes in different mountain environments - an example from the Chilean Andes
in Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
García M
(2018)
Dynamic numerical investigation of a stepped-planar rockslide in the Central Andes, Chile
in Engineering Geology
García M
(2018)
Dynamic numerical investigation of a stepped-planar rockslide in the Central Andes, Chile
in Engineering Geology
Froude M
(2018)
Global fatal landslide occurrence from 2004 to 2016
in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Lara M
(2018)
Landslide susceptibility maps of Santiago city Andean foothills, Chile
in Andean Geology
Massey C
(2018)
Landslides Triggered by the 14 November 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake, New Zealand
in Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
De Pascale GP
(2021)
Liquiñe-Ofqui's fast slipping intra-volcanic arc crustal faulting above the subducted Chile Ridge.
in Scientific reports
Description | This research has identified a major new volcano in Chile, until now it had not been found. We have developed new techniques for identifying potential landslides from a future earthquake in Chile, and have gained insight into seismic hazard in that country. |
Exploitation Route | We have run workshops for government and private practitioners in Chile. We anticipate that the methodology we have developed will be incorporated into the hazard assessments that are undertaken across Santiago and its environs. |
Sectors | Education,Environment |
Description | Material from this award has been used in numerous blog posts on The Landslide Blog and in talks to schools |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Education,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Sirius Potash |
Organisation | Sirius plc |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | A new developing link to support Sirius in the monitoring of the impacts of the new mine in North Yorkshire |
Collaborator Contribution | We are in discussion with Sirius around a range of projects |
Impact | No outputs as yet |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Landslides and active tectonics, from a global view to the Andean context, open seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | One day seminar for industry and academia with presentations of award team members of main results of the project and open discussion, attended by about 70 people. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Landslides and active tectonics, from a global view to the Andean context, seminar for Chile Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Housing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Half day seminar for professionals of Chilean ministries of Housing and Public Works, with presentations of award team members of main results of the project, attended by about 40 people. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentation at the International Symposium on Mega Earthquake Induced Geo-disasters and Long Term Effects, Chengdu, China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote lecture at the 5th International Symposium on Mega Earthquake Induced Geo-disasters and Long Term Effects |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.mege.net/ |
Description | Talk at a 6th Form Conference in Nottingham, December 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A presentation to about 400 6th Formers at a schools conferemce |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |