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Statistical Analysis of Landslide Events in Central America and their Run-out Distance

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Abstract

Statistical analyses of landslide deposits from similar areas provide information on dynamics and rheology, and are the basis for empirical relationships for the prediction of future events. In Central America landslides represent an important threat in both volcanic and non-volcanic areas. Data, mainly from 348 landslides in Nicaragua, and 19 in other Central American countries have been analyzed to describe landslide characteristics and to search for possible correlations and empirical relationships. The mobility of a landslide, expressed as the ratio between height of fall (H) and run-out distance (L) as a function of the volume and height of fall; and the relationship between the height of fall and run-out distance were studied for rock falls, slides, debris flows and debris avalanches. The data show differences in run-out distance and landslide mobility among different types of landslides and between debris flows in volcanic and non-volcanic areas. The new Central American data add to and seem consistent with data published from other regions. Studies combining field observations and empirical relationships with laboratory studies and numerical simulations will help in the development of more reliable empirical equations for the prediction of landslide run-out, with applications to hazard zonation and design of optimal risk mitigation measures.

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Acknowledgements

The work presented in this paper was supported by the Research Council of Norway through the Centre of Excellence “International Centre for Geohazards” (ICG ). Their support is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also wish to thank José Cepeda, who provided data from El Salvador, and Carolina Sigarán and Guillermo Alvarado who provided data from Costa Rica. Dr. Farrokh Nadim provided very useful comments and suggestions in reviewing the manuscript.

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  1. International Centre for Geohazards, c/o Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, P.O. Box 3930, Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, 0806, Norway

    Graziella Devoli, Fabio V. De Blasio, Anders Elverhøi & Kaare Høeg

  2. Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Blindern, Oslo, 0316, Norway

    Graziella Devoli, Fabio V. De Blasio, Anders Elverhøi & Kaare Høeg

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  1. Graziella Devoli
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  2. Fabio V. De Blasio
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Correspondence to Graziella Devoli.

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Devoli, G., De Blasio, F.V., Elverhøi, A. et al. Statistical Analysis of Landslide Events in Central America and their Run-out Distance. Geotech Geol Eng 27, 23–42 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-008-9209-0

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