Abstract
The “9.5” Luding earthquake (Ms 6.8), which occurred on September 5, 2022, has triggered thousands of landslides, and caused coseismic landslide sediment in the mountain basin to increase significantly. After the Luding earthquake, landslide sediment may continue to divert to channels, and increase the activity of debris flows. Importantly, the formation of debris flows can pose a major threat to infrastructure, lives and property. To better understand the landslide sediment that increased by the “9.5” Luding earthquake and its impact on the activity of debris flows, we mapped the coseismic landslide database using satellite images. A total of 9142 landslides with an area of 49.51 km2, covering 4.81% of the whole basin, were triggered by the Luding earthquake. The coseismic landslides induced by this earthquake are dominated by shallow landslides and are densely distributed in the combined zone of the Xianshuihe fault and the Dadu fault. Approximately 333.31×106 m3 (error: 111.43×106 m3/−70.73×106 m3) of coseismic landslide sediments were induced by the earthquake in the epicenter, and the landslide materials were concentrated downstream of the basins. In addition, more than 13986.45×104 m3 (error: 4675.67×104 m3/−2967.92×104 m3) of landslide sediment may supply for debris flow occurrence. Simultaneously, the small basins that are distributed near Moxi, Detuo and the junction of the Xianshuihe fault and Daduhe fault are more susceptible to debris flows when rainstorms hit these regions. Therefore, prevention and mitigation measures, early warning, and land use planning should be adopted in advance in these regions. However, from the perspectives of landslide scale and the degree of landslide-channel coupling, the activity or active intensity of debris flows in the Luding earthquake area may be lower than that in the epicenter area of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asch TV, Tang C, Luna BQ, et al. (2013) Changes in rainfall thresholds for debris flow initiation and run-out in a catchment of the Wenchuan earthquake area, SW China. Egu General Assembly Conference. EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts.
Bracken LJ, Turnbull L, Wainwright J, et al. (2015) Sediment connectivity: a framework for understanding sediment transfer at multiple scales. Earth Surf Process Landf 40: 177–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3635
Chang M, Cui P, Xu L, et al. (2021) The spatial distribution characteristics of coseismic landslides triggered by the Ms7.0 Lushan earthquake and Ms7.0 Jiuzhaigou earthquake in southwest China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28: 20549–20569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11826-5
Chen N, Chenglin Y, Wei Z, et al. (2009) The critical rainfall characteristics for torrents and debris flows in the Wenchuan earthquake stricken area. J Mt Sci 6: 362–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-009-1064-9
Chigira M, Wu X, Inokuchi T, et al. (2010) Landslides induced by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan, China. Geomorphology 118: 225–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.01.003
Dadson SJ, Hovius N, Chen H, et al. (2004) Earthquake-triggered increase in sediment delivery from an active mountain belt. Geology 32: 733–736. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20639.1
Dai FC, Lee CF, Deng JH, et al. (2006) The 1786 earthquake-triggered landslide dam and subsequent dam-break flood on the Dadu River, southwestern China — Reply. Geomorphology 73: 277–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.08.011
Dai FC, Xu C, Yao X, et al. (2011) Spatial distribution of landslides triggered by the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, China. J Asian Earth Sci 40: 883–895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2010.04.010
Dong JJ, Lee CT, Tung YH, et al. (2009) The role of the sediment budget in understanding debris flow susceptibility. Earth Surf Process Landf 34: 1612–1624. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1850
Fuller IC, Riedler RA, Bell R, et al. (2016) Landslide-driven erosion and slope-channel coupling in steep, forested terrain, Ruahine Ranges, New Zealand, 1946–2011. Catena 142: 252–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.03.019
Ge YG, Cui P, Zhang JQ, et al. (2015) Catastrophic debris flows on July 10th 2013 along the Min River in areas seriously-hit by the Wenchuan earthquake. J Mt Sci 12: 186–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3100-7
Guzzetti F, Ardizzone F, Cardinali M, et al. (2009) Landslide volumes and landslide mobilization rates in Umbria, central Italy. Earth Planet Sci Lett 279: 222–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2009.01.005
Harp E, Jibson RW (1996) Landslides Triggered by the 1994 Northridge, California, Earthquake. Bull Seismol Soc Am 86: S319–S332. https://doi.org/10.1785/BSSA08601BS319
Huang RQ, Li WL (2014) Post-earthquake landsliding and long-term impacts in the Wenchuan earthquake area, China. Eng Geol 182: 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.07.008
Huang X, Tang C (2014) Formation and activation of catastrophic debris flows in Baishui River basin, Sichuan Province, China. Landslides 11: 955–967. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-014-0465-1
Larsen IJ, Montgomery DR, Korup O (2010) Landslide erosion controlled by hillslope material. Nat Geosci 3: 247–251. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo776
Li G, West AJ, Densmore AL, et al. (2016) Connectivity of earthquake-triggered landslides with the fluvial network: Implications for landslide sediment transport after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. J Geophys Res-Earth 121: 703–724. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JF003718
Li Y, Hu K, Zhang X, et al. (2022) Assessment of Debris Flow Activity in Response to an Earthquake Using the Sediment Connectivity Index. Front Earth Sc-Switz 10: 921706. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.921706
Lin GW, Chen H, Chen YH, et al. (2008) Influence of typhoons and earthquakes on rainfall-induced landslides and suspended sediments discharge. Eng Geol 97: 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.12.001
Martin Y, Rood K, Schwab JW, et al. (2002) Sediment transfer by shallow landsliding in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. Can J Earth Sci 39: 189–205. https://doi.org/10.1139/e01-068
Mikoš M, Fazarinc R Ribičič M (2006) Sediment production and delivery from recent large landslides and earthquake-induced rock falls in the Upper Soča River Valley, Slovenia. Eng Geol 86: 198–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2006.02.015
Parker RN, Densmore AL, Rosser NJ, et al. (2011) Mass wasting triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake is greater than orogenic growth. Nat Geosci 4: 449–452. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1154
Pearce AJ, Watson AJ (1986) Effects of earthquake-induced landslides on sediment budget and transport over a 50-yr period. Geology 14: 52–55. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<52:EOELOS>2.0.CO;2
Schuerch P, Densmore AL, McArdell BW, et al. (2006) The influence of landsliding on sediment supply and channel change in a steep mountain catchment. Geomorphology 78: 222–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.01.025
Shieh CL, Chen YS, Tsai YJ, et al. (2009) Variability in rainfall threshold for debris flow after the Chi-Chi earthquake in central Taiwan, China. Int J Sediment Res 24: 177–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2280-6
Tie YB, Zhang XZ, Lu JY, et al. (2022) Characteristics of Geological Hazards and It’s Mitigations of the Ms6.8 Earthquake in Luding County, Sichuan Province. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 49: 1–12. (In Chinese)
Tang C, Ma G, Chang M, et al. (2015) Landslides triggered by the 20 April 2013 Lushan earthquake, Sichuan Province, China. Eng Geol 187: 45–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.12.004
Tang C, van Asch TWJ, Chang M, et al. (2012) Catastrophic debris flows on 13 August 2010 in the Qingping area, southwestern China: The combined effects of a strong earthquake and subsequent rainstorms. Geomorphology 139–140: 559–576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.12.021
Tang C, Westen CJV (2018) Atlas of Wenchuan-Earthquake Geohazards: Analysis of co-seismic and post-seismic Geohazards in the area affected by the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. Sience Press, Beijing.
Tang C, Zhu J, Ding J, et al. (2011a) Catastrophic debris flows triggered by a 14 August 2010 rainfall at the epicenter of the Wenchuan earthquake. Landslides 8: 485–497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-011-0269-5
Tang C, Zhu J, Li WL, et al. (2009) Rainfall-triggered debris flows following the Wenchuan earthquake. B Eng Geol Environ 68: 187–194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-009-0201-6
Tang C, Zhu J, Xin Q, et al. (2011b) Landslides induced by the Wenchuan earthquake and the subsequent strong rainfall event: A case study in the Beichuan area of China. Eng Geol 122: 22–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2011.03.013
Tian Y, Xu C, Ma S, et al. (2019) Inventory and Spatial Distribution of Landslides Triggered by the 8th August 2017 M_W 6.5 Jiuzhaigou Earthquake, China. J Earth Sci 30: 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-018-0869-2
Wang J, Jin ZD, Hilton RG, et al. (2015) Controls on fluvial evacuation of sediment from earthquake-triggered landslides. Geology 43: 115–118. https://doi.org/10.1130/G36157.1
Wei Z, Shang Y, Zhao Y, Pan P, et al. (2017) Rainfall threshold for initiation of channelized debris flows in a small catchment based on in-site measurement. Eng Geol 217: 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.12.003
Wang YS, Cheng WQ, Liu JW (2022) Forming Process and Mechanisms of Geo-Hazards in Luding Section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. Earth Sci 47: 950–958. (In Chinese)
Xiong J, Tang C, Chen M, et al. (2021a) Long-term changes in the landslide sediment supply capacity for debris flow occurrence in Wenchuan County, China. Catena 203: 105340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105340
Xiong J, Tang C, Chen M, et al. (2021b) Activity characteristics and enlightenment of the debris flow triggered by the rainstorm on 20 August 2019 in Wenchuan County, China. B Eng Geol Environ 80: 873–888. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01981-x
Xiong J, Tang C, Gong L, et al. (2021c) Variability of rainfall time distributions and their impact on peak discharge in the Wenchuan County, China. B Eng Geol Environ 80: 7113–7129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02376-2
Xiong J, Tang C, Gong L, et al. (2022a) How landslide sediments are transferred out of an alpine basin: Evidence from the epicentre of the Wenchuan earthquake. Catena 208: 105781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105781
Xiong J, Tang C, Tang H, et al. (2022b) Long-term hillslope erosion and landslide-channel coupling in the area of the catastrophic Wenchuan earthquake. Eng Geol 305: 106727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106727
Xiong J (2022c) Research on long-term effects of sediment transport and debris flow activity intensity in debris flow basin in strorng earthquake area. Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu. (In Chinese)
Xu C, Xu X (2014) The spatial distribution pattern of landslides triggered by the 20 April 2013 Lushan earthquake of China and its implication to identification of the seismogenic fault. Chinese Sci Bull 59: 1416–1424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0202-0
Xu C, Xu X, Shen L, et al (2016) Optimized volume models of earthquake-triggered landslides. Sci Rep 6: 29797. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep29797
Xu C, Xu XW, Yao X, et al. (2014) Three (nearly) complete inventories of landslides triggered by the May 12, 2008 Wenchuan Mw 7.9 earthquake of China and their spatial distribution statistical analysis. Landslides 11: 441–461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0404-6
Zhang X, Tang C, Li N, et al. (2022) Investigation of the 2019 Wenchuan County debris flow disaster suggests nonuniform spatial and temporal post-seismic debris flow evolution patterns. Landslides 19: 1935–1956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-022-01896-6
Zhou W, Tang C (2014) Rainfall thresholds for debris flow initiation in the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken area, southwestern China. Landslides 11: 877–887. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0421-5
Zhu J, Ding J, Liang J (2011) Influences of the Wenchuan Earthquake on sediment supply of debris flows. J Mt Sci 8: 270–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-011-2114-7
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U21A2008), the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP) (Grant No. 2019QZKK0902), and CAS Light of West China Program.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xiong, J., Chen, Hy., Zeng, L. et al. Coseismic landslide sediment increased by the “9.5” Luding earthquake, Sichuan, China. J. Mt. Sci. 20, 624–636 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-022-7770-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-022-7770-2