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Mass movements susceptibility analysis along the Southern Escarpment of the Bamileke Plateaus (Western Cameroon Highlands) using a GIS-based analytical approach

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Abstract

The Southern Escarpment of the Bamileke Plateaus (SEBP) is an area frequently affected by mass movements. An analysis of the susceptibility of these hazards is important to better understand these mountain processes. Field campaigns as well as the exploitation of satellite images in the laboratory have made it possible to inventory all sites subject to mass movements in the region. The region is affected by landslides, block falls, and subsidence. Landslides are the most frequent hazard in the region. These hazards are regulated by about ten natural and anthropogenic factors which include lithology, geomorphology, anthropogenic action, soil, proximity to roads, proximity to watercourses, density of watercourses, slope, direction of slopes, and curvature of slopes. The steepest slopes are between 27° and 90°, the most important slopes are oriented North–West. The curvature of the slopes shows zero, convex, and concave slopes. The soils in the area are ferralitic, humus-bearing, and hydromorphic. The land use shows bare soil and cultivated soil. The geomorphology shows altitudes ˃ 1319 m, the highest stream densities range from 183 to 293 m and constitute the significant proximities causing instabilities. In relation to the different classes of river proximity, the highest river proximities are ˃120 m. The highest road proximities are ˃ 50 m relative to the other road proximity classes. The geological formations that dominate the area are basalts, mylonites, granites gneisses, and charnockites. These factors were mapped and the different maps were overlaid to obtain a mass movement susceptibility map of the study area. This map shows that 16.95% represent low probability areas, 43.39% represent moderate probability areas, 29.77% represent high probability areas and 9.89% represent very high probability areas. The majority of mass movements, especially landslides, are located in the high probability areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, PO Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon

    Raoul Merlin Ndonbou, David Guimolaire Nkouathio, Paul Tematio & Sylvie Noelle Djukem Fenguia

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, PO Box 814, Maroua, Cameroon

    Ghislain Zangmo Tefogoum

  3. Department of Geology, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon

    Christian Suh Guedjeo

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  1. Raoul Merlin Ndonbou
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  2. David Guimolaire Nkouathio
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  3. Ghislain Zangmo Tefogoum
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  6. Sylvie Noelle Djukem Fenguia
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Correspondence to David Guimolaire Nkouathio.

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Ndonbou, R.M., Nkouathio, D.G., Tefogoum, G.Z. et al. Mass movements susceptibility analysis along the Southern Escarpment of the Bamileke Plateaus (Western Cameroon Highlands) using a GIS-based analytical approach. Environ Earth Sci 81, 154 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10240-z

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