Spatial distribution of landslide dams triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Xuanmei Fan*, Cees J. Van Westen, Qiang Xu, Tolga Gorum, Fuchu Dai, Gonghui Wang, Runqiu Huang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Landslide dams are a common type of river disturbance in tectonically active mountain belts with narrow and steep valleys. Here we present an unprecedented inventory of 828 landslide dams triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China. Of the 828 landslide dams, 501 completely dammed the rivers, while the others only caused partial damming. The spatial distribution of landslide dams was similar to that of the total landslide distribution, with landslide dams being most abundant in the steep watersheds of the hanging wall of the Yingxiu-Beichuan Thrust Fault, and in the northeastern part of the strike-slip fault near Qingchuan. We analyzed the relation between landslide dam distribution and a series of seismic, topographic, geological, and hydrological factors.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLandslide Science and Practice
Subtitle of host publicationComplex Environment
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages279-285
Number of pages7
ISBN (Print)9783642314261
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event2nd World Landslide Forum, WLF 2011 - Rome, Italy
Duration: 3 Oct 20119 Oct 2011

Publication series

NameLandslide Science and Practice: Complex Environment
Volume5

Conference

Conference2nd World Landslide Forum, WLF 2011
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityRome
Period3/10/119/10/11

Keywords

  • Landslide
  • Landslide dam
  • Spatial distribution
  • Wenchuan earthquake

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