Skip to main content
Log in

Changing rainfall and its impact on landslides in Sri Lanka

  • Published:
Journal of Mountain Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During the recent past the rainfall pattern in Sri Lanka has shown a noticeable change. This paper describes the effect of this change on the occurrence of landslides and their impacts to eco systems. This study shows that most of the landslides occurring in Sri Lanka during northeast monsoons, southwest monsoons and second inter-monsoon were located in three distinctively separated areas. Analysis of rainfall time series shows a trend of increased lengths of dry periods along with an increasing trend of rainfall intensity, especially after the late seventies. A strong relation is obtained between the location of landslides and the spatial distribution of areas where rainfall intensity is increased.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amaratunnga G.K. 1994. Negative Impact of Landslides on Environment.Proceedings, National Symposium on Landslide in Sri Lanka Volume 01, National Building Research Organization, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Pp. 207–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunetti, M., Buffoni, L., Mauger, M., Nanni, T. 2001a. Precipitation Intensity Trends in Northern Italy.International Journal of Climatology 20: 1017–1031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunetti, M., Mauger, M., Nanni, T. 2001b. Changes in Total Precipitation, Rainy Days and Extreme Events in Northeastern Italy.International Journal of Climatology 21: 861–871.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dissanayake A.K. 1998. A Study of Geotechnical Aspects of some Sri Lankan Landslides. A Master of Philosophy Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

    Google Scholar 

  • Domroes, M., Ranatunga, E. 1993. Analysis of Inter-station Daily Rainfall Correlation During the Southwest Monsoon in the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka.Geografiska Annaler 75A (3): 137–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groisman, P.Y., Karl, T.R., Easterling, D.R., Knight, R.W., Jamason, P.F., Hennessy, K.J., Suppiah, R., Page, C., Wibig, M., Fortuniak, J., Razivaev, K., Douglass, V.N., Forland, A., Zhai, E.J. 1999. Changes in the Probability of Heavy Precipitation: Important Indicators of Climatic Change.Climate Change 42: 243–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herath S. and Ratnayake, U.R. 2004. Monitoring Rainfall Trends to Predict Adverse Impacts—a Case Study from Sri Lanka (1964–1993).Global Environmental Change 14: 71–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton, J.T., Meira Filho, L.G., Callander, B.A., Harris, N., Kattenberg, A., Maskell, K. (eds.). 1996. IPCC Climate Change.The IPCC Second Assessment Report. Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotapola J. 1994. Landslides in Sri Lanka in the 21st Century.Proceedings, National Symposium on Landslide in Sri Lanka Volume 01. National Building Research Organization, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Pp. 161–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manton, M.J., Della Marta, P.M., Haylock, M.R., Hennessy, K.J., Nicholls, N., Chambers, L.E., Collins, D.A., Daw, G., Finet, A., Gunawan, D., Inape, K., Isobe, H., Kestin, T.S., Lefale, P., Leyu, C.H., Lwin, T., Maitrepierre, L., Ourprasitwong, N., Page, C.M., Pahalad, J., Plummer, N., Salinger, M.J., Suppiah, R., Tran, V.L., Trewin, B., Tibig, I., Yee, D. 2001. Trends in Extreme Daily Rainfall and Temperature in Southeast Asia and the South Pacic: 1961–1998.International Journal of Climatalogy 21: 269–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Forestry and Environment of Sri Lanka. 2001.National State of the Environment (SoE) of Sri Lanka in 2001. UNEP report, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ratnayake, U., Herath, S. Changing rainfall and its impact on landslides in Sri Lanka. J. Mt. Sci. 2, 218–224 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02973195

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02973195

Keywords

Navigation