Integrated database for rapid mass movements in Norway

Abstract

Abstract. Rapid gravitational slope mass movements include all kinds of short term relocation of geological material, snow or ice. Traditionally, information about such events is collected separately in different databases covering selected geographical regions and types of movement. In Norway the terrain is susceptible to all types of rapid gravitational slope mass movements ranging from single rocks hitting roads and houses to large snow avalanches and rock slides where entire mountainsides collapse into fjords creating flood waves and endangering large areas. In addition, quick clay slides occur in desalinated marine sediments in South Eastern and Mid Norway. For the authorities and inhabitants of endangered areas, the type of threat is of minor importance and mitigation measures have to consider several types of rapid mass movements simultaneously.An integrated national database for all types of rapid mass movements built around individual events has been established. Only three data entries are mandatory: time, location and type of movement. The remaining optional parameters enable recording of detailed information about the terrain, materials involved and damages caused. Pictures, movies and other documentation can be uploaded into the database. A web-based graphical user interface has been developed allowing new events to be entered, as well as editing and querying for all events. An integration of the database into a GIS system is currently under development.Datasets from various national sources like the road authorities and the Geological Survey of Norway were imported into the database. Today, the database contains 33 000 rapid mass movement events from the last five hundred years covering the entire country. A first analysis of the data shows that the most frequent type of recorded rapid mass movement is rock slides and snow avalanches followed by debris slides in third place. Most events are recorded in the steep fjordCorrespondence to: C. Jaedicke (cj@ngi.no) terrain of the Norwegian west coast, but major events are recorded all over the country. Snow avalanches account for most fatalities, while large rock slides causing flood waves and huge quick clay slides are the most damaging individual events in terms of damage to infrastructure and property and for causing multiple fatalities. The quality of the data is strongly influenced by the personal engagement of local observers and varying observation routines. This database is a unique source for statistical analysis including, risk analysis and the relation between rapid mass movements and climate. The database of rapid mass movement events will also facilitate validation of national hazard and risk maps.

Assessment of data availability for the development of landslide fatality curves

“…The study also showed that in Uganda, most people are injured or killed outside and not at their place of residence. This diverges from the data describing Norwegian quick clay landslides, where loss of life occurred most frequently in the person's place of residence (Jaedicke et al 2009). Zhang and Zhang (2014) examined factors involved with human flight behavior related to rapid landslides along roads in China.…”

“…Considering the Nordic countries, approximately 2000 people have been killed by all kinds of landslides in Norway (Jaedicke et al 2009) during the last 150 years. No such compilation has been performed for Sweden, but since 1950, at least 10 people have lost their lives, and 160 were injured as a result of landslides (MSB 2016).…”

“…Quick clay landslides occur in Norwegian and Swedish geologies where large land areas with quick clay deposits are seen (Jaedicke et al 2009;SGI 2012;Salas-Romero et al 2015). Quick clay can develop both in marine and fresh water sediments, but most Scandinavian quick clay developed in glaciomarine sediments deposited during deglaciation 14,000 to 10,000 years ago (SalasRomero et al 2015).…”

“…The data quality related to documentation of historical events is strongly influenced by the personal engagement of local observers and observational routines. (Jaedicke et al 2009). Despite the uncertainties, the database is seen as a unique source for statistical analysis, including risk analysis (Jaedicke et al 2009).…”

Major impacts of climate change on deep-sea benthic ecosystems

“…Upwelling will also bring low-O 2 , high-CO 2 water onto the shelf and upper slope (Bakun, 1990;Feely et al, 2008;Bakun et al, 2010;Sydeman et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2015). Increased levels of precipitation on land will also alter terrestrial inputs, including sediments and organic debris, nutrients, and contaminants (Jaedicke et al, 2009;Caroletti and Barstad, 2010) that may smother seafloor sediments, and alter the trophic ecology of deep-sea habitats situated close to land Wing, 2007, McLeod et al, 2010).…”