Topographic Controls on the Distribution of Coseismic Landslides: A Case Study Using the Coefficient of Variation of the 2014 Ludian, Yunnan, China, Ms6.5 Earthquake

Abstract

Identifying the locations of potential landslide areas is fundamental for disaster prevention and mitigation. Considering the close relationship between landslides and geomorphic evolution, a new approach is proposed to predict which areas are prone to landslides based on the analysis of topographic features in the area affected by the 2014 Ludian, Yunnan, China, Ms6.5 earthquake. In our method, the expected slope angle (ES), which is related to the local relief in a grid cell, is defined to describe the terrain features within grid cells. Based on the relationship between the expected slope angle and the average slope, the cells in the study region can be classified into 3 different terrains. Our study shows that large landslides triggered by the Ludian earthquake are prone to occur in regions where the expected slope angle and average slope angle show obvious differences, which means that the region has sharp changes in relief and slope. In comparison with the coseismic landslides triggered by the 2017 Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China, Ms7.0 earthquakes, preliminary analyses infer that the distribution of coseismic landslides follows the general mass transportation features of a special region and that their occurrences are the kind of simultaneous adjustment of excess geomorphicity of hill slopes to a steady state.

Resolving Quaternary Tectonic Activity with High-Resolution Data in Space and Time

“…Landslides play an important role in geomorphic evolution, which is one of the driving mechanisms of slope material migration, i.e., one of the key researches in disaster prevention and mitigation. In this issue, Chen et al [21] developed a new approach to predict the potential landslide areas. They analyzed the distribution of the coseismic landslides produced by the 2014 Ludian M 6.5 earthquake.…”

Geometrical Variation Analysis of Landslides in Different Geological Settings Using Satellite Images: Case Studies in Japan and Sri Lanka

“…2024, 16, 1757 2 of 19 as the geological conditions of the ground and geomorphology, and triggering events, such as storms and earthquakes. Many researchers have examined the relationship between landslide characteristics and their site characteristics, such as bedrock geology [6] and topography [7]. Therefore, to prevent disasters caused by landslides, it is necessary to use technologies that are suited to landslide characteristics.…”

Analysis of the Controlling Effect of Excess Topography on the Distribution of Coseismic Landslides during the Iburi Earthquake, Japan, on 6 September 2018

“…In addition, the topography can also affect the development of landslides [10][11][12][13]. Many studies have shown that areas with a high and steep topography are prone to landslides.…”

“…Previous studies mainly analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics of earthquake landslides through the inherent characteristics of the slope itself and the external triggering conditions of earthquakes and focused on the control of landslides by the slope, elevation, and aspect in terms of the topographic factors [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. However, existing studies have shown that there are significant differences in the development characteristics of coseismic landslides in different regions and under different topographic conditions [13]. This hints at the complexity of landslide-prone environments and their influencing factors.…”