Retrospective and Prospects for Cold Regions Landslide Research (2012–2016) (WCoE 2014–2017, IPL-132, IPL-167, IPL-203, CRLN)

Abstract

For nearly 100 years, the average temperature of the global surface has showed a consistent warming trend. Climate change and extreme weather events causing landslides are rising, especially landslides in cold regions, and the topic has become a hot issue in landslide research. With the support of ICL and the Chinese government, based on highway construction projects in Heilongjiang Province (China), Prof. Shan and his group (Institute of Cold Regions Science and Engineering, North East Forestry University, China) conducted thematic studies focusing on environmental and engineering geology problems in cold regions in the context of climate change, such as IPL132, IPL167, and IPL203. These studies attracted the interest of international colleagues, then Chinese colleagues, together with researchers from Russia, Canada, Japan, Italy and Czech Republic, together organized the ICL-cold regions landslide network (ICL-CRLN). In ICL-CRLN researchers could exchange research information and results, and so promote the development of landslide research in cold regions. In 2014, IPL-GPC approved the establishment of IPL-WCoE: Research Center of Cold Regions Landslide, so landslide research in cold regions came into a new stage of development. This article is a summary and outlook of these activities.