Rainfall Thresholds for The Initiation of Landslides in Trabzon Province of Turkey

Year 2010, Volume: 2 Issue: 4, 14 - 26, 01.12.2010

E. Akcali H. Arman S. Firat L. Saltabas Z. Gunduz

Abstract

Knowing the duration, intensity and amount of precipitation triggering landslides is of great importance for understanding landslide mechanisms and landslide warning systems. Global, regional and local studies carried out by the researchers revealed that the rainfalls triggering landslides occur after a certain threshold value. In Turkey, there is no available data on the threshold value of the rainfall. Trabzon province of Turkey is located in a region with the highest rainfall where the landslides mostly occur. Only in the last 20 years, more than 2000 landslides occurred in the region. The majority of these landslides were triggered by rainfall. In this study, using the log-log based graphic obtained by calculation of the duration and intensity of the rainfall in Trabzon province, the threshold value triggering landslides was found to be I=0.69 D-0.99. Rainfall threshold values obtained also for various criteria (slope angle, lithology, cover type, type of agricultural product, landslide type etc.) may be used as a reference for slope stability analysis studies which would be based on geotechnical data

Keywords

Rainfall, Rainfall Threshold Triggering Landslide, Slope Stability Analysis

References

• [1] Guzzetti, F., Peruccacci, S., Rossi, M. & Stark, C.P. Rainfall thresholds for the initiation of landslides in central and southern Europe Meteorol Atmos Phys 98, 239–267, 2007
• [2] Onalp, A. & Arel, ESlope Engineering (Turkish), Birsen Publishing House, pp 44-46, 2004
• [3] TS 8853, Turkish Standarts Institution. Slope Stability and Analysis Methods of Soils. pp 5-7, 1991
• [4] Corominas, J. Landslides and climate. Keynote lecture-In: Proceedings 8th International Symposium on Landslides, (Bromhead E, Dixon N, Ibsen ML, eds). Cardiff: A.A. Balkema, 4: 1–33, 2000
• [5] Crosta, G. B. & Frattini, P. Rainfall thresholds for triggering soil slips and debris flow. In: Proceedings 2nd EGS Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Storms (Mugnai A, Guzzetti F, Roth G, eds). Siena: 463–487, 2001
• [6] Aleotti, P. A warning system for rainfall-induced shallow failures. Eng Geol 73: 247– 265, 2004
• [7] Wieczorek, G. F. & Glade, T. Climatic factors influencing occurrence of debris flows. In: Debris flow Hazards and Related Phenomena (Jakob M, Hungr O, eds). Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 325-362, 2005
• [8] Tiranti, D. Estimation of rainfall thresholds triggering shallow landslides for an operational warning system implementation, Landslides, DOI 10.1007/s10346-010- 0198-8, 2010
• [9] Caine, N. The rainfall intensity–duration control of shallow landslides and debris flows. Geogr. Ann. 62 A (1-2): 23-27, 1980
• [10] Innes, J. L. Debris flows. Prog Phys Geog 7: 469–501, 1983 [11] Jibson, R. W. Debris flow in southern Porto Rico. Geological Society of America, Special Paper 236, 29–55, 1989
• [12] Clarizio, M., Gulli, G. & Sorbino, G. Mechanism of Landslides. Proceedings of International Conference) vol. 1, pp. 585-597, 1996
• [13] Cannon, S. H. & Gartner, J. E. Wildfire-related debris flow from a hazards perspective. In: Jakob M, Hungr O (eds) Debris flow hazards and related phenomena. Springer, Berlin, pp 363–385, 2005
• [14] Guzzetti, F. & Peruccacci, S. The rainfall intensity–duration control of shallow landslides and debris flows: an update, Landslides 5:3–17, 2008
• [15] DMI, Turkish State Meteorological Service. Rainfall reports, 1988-2008
• [16] TBIM, Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Public Works and Settlement-Turkey. Landslide reports, 1988-2008
• [17] AIGM, General Directorate of Disaster Affairs-Turkey. Investigation reports, 1988- 2008
• [18] MTA, Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration of Trabzon Province-Turkey. Investigation reports, 1988-2008
• [19] TOGM, Regional Directorate of Forestry of Trabzon Province-Turkey.. Damage reports, 1988-2008
• [20] DSI, State Hydraulic Works 22nd Regional Directorate-Turkey. Rainfall reports, Trabzon, 1988-2008
• [21] DMI, Turkish State Meteorological Service. Meteorological Activities Seminar Notes Trabzon, 2010
• [22] Zezere, J. L Shallow and deep landslides induced by rainfall in the Lisbon region (Portugal): assessment of relationships with the North Atlantic Oscillation, Nat Hazard Earth Sys Sci 5: 331–344, 2005
• [23] Cancelli, A. & Nova R. Landslides in soil debris cover triggered by rainstorm in Valtellina, Proc. 4th Int. Conf. and Field Workshop on Landslides, Tokyo, 1, 267–272, 1985
• [24] Ceriani. M., Lauzi. S & Padovan, N. Rainfall and landslides in the Alpine area of Lombardia Region, central Alps, Italy. In: Interpraevent Int. Symposium. Bern: 2: 9–20, 1992
• [25] Dahal, R. K. & Hasegawa, S. Representative rainfall thresholds for landslides in the Nepal Himalaya Geomorphology 100, 429–443, 2008