Abstract
Geophysical investigation of three landslides in Murree Hills was carried out using geophysical techniques (i.e., seismic refraction and electrical resistivity) and geochemical tool (passive radon exhalation detection method). The seismic data was acquired by using reverse shooting scheme employing placement of source after the last active geophone in the spread. The acquired data was analyzed, and layer velocities were estimated by using Hagedoorn’s method. The resistivity data was modeled in terms of true resistivity of subsurface material by curve matching technique. The radon emission was determined as alpha track densities for each detector planted in dosimeter in the sub-surface along survey profiles. The results of all the methods employed were interpreted and correlated in the context of local geology, and also considering seasonal and anthropogenic factors. The study guides the importance of local geological structure and lithologies in the formation of thick weathering layer. The weathered layer wet/moistened through rains in the winter and summer seasons or daily use of water due to urbanization of the area, exerts more downslide force thus resulting landslides. This thickness of weathered layer is determined by using seismic refraction and resistivity methods for the three landslides (MIT, Kuldana and Chitta Mor) which is in agreement. Also, the passive radon exhalation detection technique (geochemical investigation) has delineated the stable and unstable areas within the three landslide zones. These geophysical and geochemical investigations are recommended on the major landslides of the area prior to damage control measures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbasi I A, Khan M A, Ishfaq M and Mool P K 2002 Slope failure and landslide mechanism, Murree area, north Pakistan; Geol. Bull. Univ. Peshawar 35 125–137.
Asghar M 2001 Geophysical investigation of landslides in Murree Hills area; M.Phil thesis, Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Bharti A K, Pal S K, Priyam P, Kumar S, Srivastava S and Yadav P K 2016a Subsurface cavity detection over Patherdih colliery, Jharia Coalfield, India using electrical resistivity tomography; Environ. Earth Sci. 75(5) 1–17, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-5025-z.
Bharti A K, Pal S K, Priyam P, Pathak V K, Kumar R and Ranjan S K 2016b Detection of illegal mine voids using electrical resistivity tomography: The case-study of Raniganj coalfield (India); Eng. Geol. 213 120–132.
Bharti A K, Pal S K, Saurabh, Singh K K K, Singh P K, Amar Prakash and Tiwary R K 2019 Groundwater prospecting by inversion of cumulative data of Wenner–Schlumberger and Dipole–Dipole arrays: A case study at Turamdih, Jharkhand, India; J. Earth Syst. Sci. 128(4) 107, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1137-2.
Bichler A, Bobrowsky P, Best M, Douma M, Hunter J, Calvert T and Burns R 2004 Three-dimensional mapping of a landslide using a multi-geophysical approach: The Quesnel Forks landslide; Landslides 1(1) 29–40.
Chambers A F 1992 Kinematics of the frontal Himalayan thrust belt, Pakistan and the external Western Alps, France; unpublished Ph.D dissertation, Imperial College London, 369p.
Chirkov A M 1975 Radon as a possible criterion for predicting eruptions as observed at Karymsky volcano; Bull. Volcanologique 39(1) 126–131, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596952.
Densmore A L and Hovius N 2000 Topographic fingerprints of bedrock landslides; Geology 28(4) 371–374.
Deoja B M, Dhital B T and Wagner A 1991 Mountain Risk Engineering Handbook-Part 1, International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Dunning S A, Mitchell W A, Rosser N J and Petley D N 2007 The Hattian Bala rock avalanche and associated landslides triggered by the Kashmir Earthquake of 8 October 2005; Eng. Geol. 93(3) 130–144.
Dyck W 1972 Radon methods for prospecting in Canada, Uranium prospecting Handbook. In: Proceedings of NATO Sponsored Advanced Studies Institute, on methods of Prospecting of Uranium Minerals, London.
Farooq S M 2000 Geotechnical study for landslide problems along Murre Muzaffarabad Road Pakistan; PhD Thesis, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Gansser A 1964 Geology of the Himalayas; Wiley, New York, 289p.
Gupta R K, Agrawal M, Pal S K, Kumar R and Srivastava S 2019 Site characterization through combined analysis of seismic and electrical resistivity data at a site of Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India; Environ. Earth Sci. 78(6) 226, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8231-2.
Hafeez S, Ahmed W, Azam S and Khan S 2019 Evaluation of landslide hazard at Herth, Chitral, Pakistan; Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 4 13.
Hagedoorn J G 1959 The plus–minus method of interpreting seismic refraction sections; Geophys. Prospect. 7 158–182.
Hylland M D, Riaz M and Ahmad S 1988 Stratigraphy and structure of southern Ghandghar Ranges, Pakistan; Geol. Bull. Univ. Peshawar 21 1–14.
Ibsen M L and Casagli N 2004 Rainfall patterns and related landslide incidence in the Porretta–Vergato region, Italy; Landslides 2(1) 143–150.
IPI2Win 2001 Programs set for ID VES data Interpretation; Department of Geophysics, Geological Faculty, Moscow University, Russia.
Iqbal M and Bennert D 1998 Structural observations of the Margalla Hills, Pakistan, and the nature of the MBT; Pak. J. Hydrocarbon Res. 10 41–53.
King C Y 1978 Radon emanation on San Andreas fault; Nature 271 516–519.
Malik M H and Farooq S 1996 Landslide hazard management and control in Pakistan: A review of ICIMOD; Kathmandu, Nepal, 68p.
Montogomery C W 1991 Environmental Geology; 3rd edn, Wm C. Brown Publishers, Dubluque, IA52001, USA.
Neiderer S and Schaffner U R 1989 Landslide problems and erosion control in Murree and Kohat tehsils of Rawalpindi Dist.; Results of the fact-finding mission, Swiss Dev. Coop, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Govt. of Switzerland, CH-3003, Bern, 38p.
Rafiq M, Khan S R, Wagner A and Stephan N 1989 Murree Erosion Control; Results of the fact-finding mission, Swiss Dev. Coop, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Govt. of Switzerland, CH-3003, Bern, 38p.
Ranjan S K, Pal S K and Singh K K K 2015 An approach to improve shallow surface investigation using Joint analysis of Rayleigh and Love waves; Curr. Sci. 109(7) 1239–1242.
Sass O, Bell R and Glade T 2008 Comparison of GPR, 2D-resistivity and traditional techniques for the subsurface exploration of the Öschingen landslide, Swabian Alb (Germany); Geomorphology 93(1) 89–103.
Schaffner U R 1998 Landslide management and construction of roads in hilly areas of Murree and Kahuta; Report by Govt. of Punjab, 22p.
Singh K K K, Bharti A K, Pal S K, Prakash A, Saurabh, Kumar R and Singh P K 2019 Delineation of fracture zone for groundwater using combined inversion technique; Environ. Earth Sci. 78 110, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8072-z.
Ulomov V I and Mavashev B Z 1967 On force runners of strong tectonic earthquakes; Dokl. Akad. Nauk. USSR 176 319.
Young D A 1956 Etching of radiation damage in lithium fluoride; Nature 182 375–377.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the National Centre for Physics (NCP) and Dr Shahid Nadeem Qureshi (Comsats University Islamabad) for the logistic support for field work and instrumentation used in this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Arkoprovo Biswas
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ahmed, K.A., Khan, S., Sultan, M. et al. Landslides assessment using geophysical and passive radon exhalation detection techniques in Murree Hills, northern Pakistan: Implication for environmental hazard assessment. J Earth Syst Sci 129, 53 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1327-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1327-y