Geomorphological and dendrochronological analyses of a complex landslide in the southern apennines

Abstract

. Complex landslides, capable of reactivation, are typical slope movements in high relief areas. Due to their distribution, size and kinematics, these landforms represent a major hazard, posing a high risk to populations, settlements and infrastructures. This paper integrates geomorphological analyses, instrumental measurements and dendrochronological approaches in assessing a large, reactivated landslide system on the southern piedmont of Monte Sirino (southern Italy). The landslide system is associated with weak geological structures, earthquake activity, and rapid recent incision of the mid‐Pleistocene Noce lake deposits. Potential reactivation triggers include a higher regional annual rainfall, one of the highest in southern Italy, and more frequent heavy snowfalls in recent decades. Reactivation of the Sirino landslide system has important implications for the motorway connecting Salerno and Reggio Calabria, which crosses it. The results of our study show that the slide is reactivated with an almost decadal frequency and that major reactivations are correlated to prolonged snowfall, which occurs with increasing frequency in the southern Apennines. The last observation suggests the need for similar studies on the behaviour of other landslide systems in the southern Apennines, performing integrated approaches such as geotechnical and dendrogeomorphological analysis.

Dynamics of development and variability of surface degradation in the subalpine and alpine zones (an example from the Velká Fatra Mts., Slovakia)

“…In relation to these areas, the most obvious disruption seems to be the risk of vegetation cover and soil stability [1,2]. A significant reduction of timber line in subalpine zone associated with the different forms of turf destruction led to the formation of wasted lands [3,4].…”

Contribution of dendrochronology to the determination of magnitude–frequency relationships for landslides

“…This technique has been increasingly used to determine the frequency of debris flows Osterkamp and Hupp, 1987;May and Gresswell, 2004;Stoffel et al, 2006Bollschweiler et al, 2007Bollschweiler et al, , 2008Pelfini and Santilli, 2008); rockfalls (Schweingruber, 1996;Moya and Corominas, 2004;Stoffel et al, 2005;Perret et al, 2006;Stoffel, 2006;Schnewly and Stoffel, 2008;Moya et al, 2010) and landslides showing repeated reactivation events (Shroder, 1978;Braam et al, 1987;Corominas and Moya, 1999;Fantucci and Sorriso-Valvo, 1999;Stefanini, 2004;Guida et al, 2008;Van den Eeckauht et al, 2009).…”

Catastrophic slope failure and its origins: Case of the May 2010 Girová Mountain long-runout rockslide (Czech Republic)

“…Dendrogeomorphological dating was focused on inferring mass movement activity in the area of the Girová Mountain rockslide over the last few decades. The feasibility of dendrochronological dating of landslide activity was previously verified by numerous studies (e.g., Fantucci and Sorriso-Valvo, 1999;Stefanini, 2004;Guida et al, 2008). The analysis was performed using 216 increment cores coming from 108 individuals of common spruce (P. abies).…”