Updated Map of Landslides Triggered by Ghorka Earthquake and Aftershocks
An updated landslide intensity map (including landslides caused by both the 25 April Ghorka Earthquake and the 12 May Dolakha Earthquake) has been posted to the Earthquakes without Frontiers blog. Approximately 5600 landslides have been mapped as of 10 June 2015.
Figure 1. Updated landslide intensity map posted to the
Earthquakes without Frontiers blog.
Landslides have been a major problem since the earthquakes hit in Nepal. AGU’s landslide blog has a recent update concerning the
Araniko Highway (a major link connecting Nepal with Tibet and China). Much of the highway has been littered with landslide debris, thus shutting down a necessary trade route. As the monsoon season is just underway, it will be critical to stay aware of the imminent landslide risks they may pose.
Landslide Hazard Analysis (University of Michigan)
Posted by Patrick Bassal and Ashly Cabas
6/11/15
Some researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) have performed an analysis of landslide hazards associated with the recent Nepal earthquakes. Their analysis of landslide risk was performed using a computer analysis that looked at the earthquake ground motions, slope steepness, and strength of rock types. Their website contains downloadable “.kmz” files depicting the areas that may have experienced landslides or have an increased risk of landslides due to the earthquakes.
“Information from the U-M-led study has been shared with the U.S Geological Survey, NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other responding agencies. It is being used help prioritize both satellite observations and the analysis of data from those satellites, said Clark, an associate professor in the U-M Department of Earth and Environmental Science.”
More information and downloadable content is provided in the links below:
Preliminary Map of Landslides Triggered by Earthquake
Posted by Patrick Bassal
5/7/15
Research groups in the UK have been working to identify large landslides that are blocking valleys, affecting villages, and disrupting the infrastructure in Nepal. Their observations are based on satellite imagery taken from multiple sources (see map posted below). Their preliminary findings and recommendations for field study can be found in the Earthquakes Without Frontiers link below. One of the most significant observations is that the zone mapped to have intense landsliding corresponds to areas with high rates of past landslides triggered by rainfall. It is thus necessary to assess the hazard associated with these potential landslides before the upcoming monsoon season, expected to start in late June.
Figure 2. Identified large landslides in Nepal posted to the Earthquakes without Frontiers blog.
Curated topics from the April 25, 2015, Nepal Earthquake to help inform reconnaissance activities, identify impacted regions, and help document the timeline of earthquake response/recovery.
Information on geotechnical impacts—landslides and liquefaction—from the April 25, 2015, Nepal earthquake.
