[go: up one dir, main page]
Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

A Panoramic View of the Landslides Triggered by the May 12th, 2008 Mw 7.9 Earthquake in Wenchuan, China

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Earthquake Geology and Tectonophysics around Eastern Tibet and Taiwan

Part of the book series: Atmosphere, Earth, Ocean & Space ((AEONS))

  • 571 Accesses

Abstract

This paper reviews studies of the landslides triggered by the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake as a panoramic view of a vast number of slope failures. It examines (1) descriptions of the disastrous coseismic bedrock landslides, (2) the coseismic landslide database, (3) landslide influence factors and the spatial distribution pattern, (4) spatial landslide susceptibility mapping, and (5) effects of earthquake-triggered landslides on landscape evolution. The Wenchuan earthquake triggered massive large-scale bedrock landslides, which resulted in serious casualties and property damage. At least 197 481 landslides were identified, being distributed within an elliptic area of approximately 110 000 km2. Their total area and volume were approximately 1160 km2 and 6–10 km3. They constitute the largest landslide database related to an individual earthquake ever recorded worldwide. Many factors might have affected these slope failures, such as topography, geology, strong ground motion, and surface deformation related to earthquake magnitude and the properties of the seismogenic faults. Associated with this, areas with the following features are more susceptible to landslides: high slope angles; close proximity to the Yingxiu–Beichuan surface fault rupture; hanging wall of the reverse fault; east-, southeast-, and southward slope aspects; peak ground accelerations larger than 0.2 g; sandstone, siltstone, or granitic underlying rocks; and IX–XI intensity levels. A significant number of methods for earthquake-triggered landslide assessments have been used, including the Newmark method, statistical methods, and combinations of both. The resultant assessment maps provide useful information for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected area. In addition, some researchers have studied the relationships between coseismic landslides and crustal uplift, landscape evolution in the affected area, and the long-term effect of earthquake-triggered landslides on the environment, which will be helpful for promoting the advancement of research on this subject.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen Q, Cheng H, Yang Y, Liu G, Liu L (2014) Quantification of mass wasting volume associated with the giant landslide Daguangbao induced by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake from persistent scatterer InSAR. Remote Sens Environ 152:125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Dai FC, Xu C, Yao X, Xu L, Tu XB, Gong QM (2011) Spatial distribution of landslides triggered by the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, China. J Asian Earth Sci 40(4):883–895

    Google Scholar 

  3. de Michele M, Raucoules D, De Sigoyer J, Pubellier M, Chamot-Rooke N (2010) Three-dimensional surface displacement of the 2008 May 12 Sichuan earthquake (China) derived from synthetic aperture radar: evidence for rupture on a blind thrust. Geophys J Int 183(3):1097–1103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ding H, Li Y, Ni S, Ma G, Shi Z, Zhao G, Yan L, Yan Z (2014) Increased sediment discharge driven by heavy rainfall after Wenchuan earthquake: a case study in the upper reaches of the Min River, Sichuan, China. Quatern Int 333:122–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Godt J, Sener B, Verdin K, Wald D, Earle P, Harp E, Jibson R (2008) Rapid assessment of earthquake-induced landsliding. In: Proceedings of the first world landslide forum, United Nations University, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gorum T, Fan X, van Westen CJ, Huang R, Xu Q, Tang C, Wang G (2011) Distribution pattern of earthquake-induced landslides triggered by the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Geomorphology 133(3–4):152–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Guo Z, Zhou C, Sun X, Zhang J (2010) The distribution of landslide triggered by Wenchuan earthquake and its causative factors. Earth Sci Front 17(5):234–242

    Google Scholar 

  8. Huang R, Li W (2009) Analysis of the geo-hazards triggered by the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China. Bull Eng Geol Env 68(3):363–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Huang R, Li W (2009) Analysis on the number and density of landslides triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China. J Geol Hazards Environ Pres 20(3):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  10. Huang R, Fan X (2013) The landslide story. Nat Geosci 6(5):325–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Huang R, Pei X, Li T (2008) Basic characteristics and formation mechanism of the largest scale landslide at Daguangbao occurred during the Wenchuan earthquake. J Eng Geol 16(6):730–741

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hubbard J, Shaw JH (2009) Uplift of the Longmen Shan and Tibetan plateau, and the 2008 Wenchuan (M = 7.9) earthquake. Nature 458(12):194–197

    Google Scholar 

  13. Li Y, Chen G, Tang C, Zhou G, Zheng L (2012) Rainfall and earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility assessment using GIS and artificial neural network. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 12(8):2719–2729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Li W, Huang R, Tang C, Xu Q, van Westen CJ (2013) Co-seismic landslide inventory and susceptibility mapping in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake disaster area, China. J Mountain Sci 10(3):339–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Li G, West AJ, Densmore AL, Hammond DE, Jin Z, Zhang F, Wang J, Hilton RG (2016) Connectivity of earthquake-triggered landslides with the fluvial network: implications for landslide sediment transport after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. J Geophys Res Earth Surf 121(4):703–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Li G, West AJ, Densmore AL, Jin Z, Parker RN, Hilton RG (2014) Seismic mountain building: landslides associated with the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in the context of a generalized model for earthquake volume balance. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 15(4):833–844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Li G, West AJ, Densmore AL, Jin Z, Zhang F, Wang J, Clark M, Hilton RG (2017) Earthquakes drive focused denudation along a tectonically active mountain front. Earth Planet Sci Lett 472:253–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Parker RN, Densmore AL, Rosser NJ, De Michele M, Li Y, Huang RQ, Whadcoat S, Petley DN (2011) Mass wasting triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake is greater than orogenic growth. Nat Geosci 4(7):449–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Parsons T, Ji C, Kirby E (2008) Stress changes from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and increased hazard in the Sichuan basin. Nature 454(7203):509–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Qi S, Xu Q, Lan H, Zhang B, Liu J (2010) Spatial distribution analysis of landslides triggered by 2008.5.12 Wenchuan earthquake, China. Eng Geol 116(1–2):95–108

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shen Z-K, Sun J, Zhang P, Wan Y, Wang M, Bürgmann R, Zeng Y, Gan W, Liao H, Wang Q (2009) Slip maxima at fault junctions and rupturing of barriers during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Nat Geosci 2(10):718–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Song Y, Gong J, Gao S, Wang D, Cui T, Li Y, Wei B (2012) Susceptibility assessment of earthquake-induced landslides using Bayesian network: a case study in Beichuan, China. Comput Geosci 42:189–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Tang C, Van Westen CJ, Tanyas H, Jetten VG (2016) Analysing post-earthquake landslide activity using multi-temporal landslide inventories near the epicentral area of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 16:2641–2655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang J, Jin Z, Hilton RG, Zhang F, Densmore AL, Li G, West AJ (2015) Controls on fluvial evacuation of sediment from earthquake-triggered landslides. Geology 43(2):115–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang Q, Qiao XJ, Lan QG, Jeffrey F, Yang SM, Xu CJ, Yang YL, You XZ, Tan K, Chen G (2011) Rupture of deep faults in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and uplift of the Longmen Shan. Nat Geosci 4(9):634–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wang T, Wu S, Shi J, Xin P (2013) Case study on rapid assessment of regional seismic landslide hazard based on simplified Newmark displacement model: Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake. J Eng Geol 21(1):16–24

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wang Y, Song C, Lin Q, Li J (2016) Occurrence probability assessment of earthquake-triggered landslides with Newmark displacement values and logistic regression: the Wenchuan earthquake, China. Geomorphology 258:108–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Xu C (2010) Spatial distribution and susceptibility mapping of the Wenchuan earthquake-triggered landslides. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  29. Xu C (2013) Actual landslides as most objective standard for validation of landslide hazard assessment result. J Eng Geol 21(6):908–911

    Google Scholar 

  30. Xu C (2015) Preparation of earthquake-triggered landslide inventory maps using remote sensing and GIS technologies: principles and case studies. Geosci Front 6(6):825–836

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Xu C, Dai F, Chen J, Tu X, Xu L, Li W, Tian W, Cao Y, Yao X (2009) Identification and analysis of secondary geological hazards triggered by a magnitude 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. J Remote Sens 13(4):745–762

    Google Scholar 

  32. Xu C, Dai F, Xu X (2010) Wenchuan earthquake induced landslides: an overview. Geol Rev 56(6):860–874

    Google Scholar 

  33. Xu C, Dai F, Xu X, Lee YH (2012) GIS-based support vector machine modeling of earthquake-triggered landslide susceptibility in the Jianjiang River watershed, China. Geomorphology 145–146:70–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Xu C, Xu X (2012) Comment on “Spatial distribution analysis of landslides triggered by 2008.5. 12 Wenchuan Earthquake, China” by Qi S, Xu Q, Lan H, Zhang B, Liu J [Engineering Geology 116 (2010) 95–108]. Eng Geol 133–134:40–42

    Google Scholar 

  35. Xu C, Xu X, Dai F, Saraf AK (2012) Comparison of different models for susceptibility mapping of earthquake triggered landslides related with the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. Comput Geosci 46:317–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Xu C, Xu X, Dai F, Xiao J, Tan X, Yuan R (2012) Landslide hazard mapping using GIS and weight of evidence model in Qingshui River watershed of 2008 Wenchuan earthquake struck region. J Earth Sci 23(1):97–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Xu C, Xu X, Gorum T, van Westen CJ, Fan X (2014) Did the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake lead to a net volume loss? Landslide science for a safer geoenvironment. In: Proceedings of world landslide forum 3, 2–6 June 2014, Beijing, vol 3, pp 19–196

    Google Scholar 

  38. Xu C, Xu X, Shen L, Yao Q, Tan X, Kang W, Ma S, Wu X, Cai J, Gao M, Li K (2016) Optimized volume models of earthquake-triggered landslides. Sci Rep 6:29797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Xu C, Xu X, Yao Q, Wang Y (2013) GIS-based bivariate statistical modelling for earthquake-triggered landslides susceptibility mapping related to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 46(2):221–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Xu C, Xu X, Yao X, Dai F (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(3):441–461

    Google Scholar 

  41. Xu W-J, Xu Q, Wang Y-J (2013) The mechanism of high-speed motion and damming of the Tangjiashan landslide. Eng Geol 157:8–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Xu X, Wen X, Yu G, Chen G, Klinger Y, Hubbard J, Shaw J (2009) Coseismic reverse-and oblique-slip surface faulting generated by the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake, China. Geology 37(6):515–518

    Google Scholar 

  43. Yin Y (2008) Research on the geo-hazards triggered by Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan. J Eng Geol 16(4):433–444

    Google Scholar 

  44. Yin Y, Li B, Wang W (2015) Dynamic analysis of the stabilized Wangjiayan landslide in the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake and aftershocks. Landslides 12(3):537–547

    Google Scholar 

  45. Yin Y, Wang F, Sun P (2009) Landslide hazards triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan. China. Landslides 6(2):139–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Yin YP, Cheng YL, Wang J, Wang M, Liu B, Song Y, Liang JT (2011) Remote sensing research on Daguangbao gigantic rock-slide triggered by Wenchuan earthquake. J Eng Geol 19(5):674–684

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41661144037). We would like to thank Anthony Abram (http://www.uni-edit.net) for editing and proofreading this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Crustal Dynamics, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, China

    Chong Xu & Xi-Wei Xu

  2. Key Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Volcano, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, China

    Chong Xu

Authors
  1. Chong Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xi-Wei Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chong Xu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ching-Hua Lo

  2. China Earthquake Administration, Institute of Crustal Dynamics, Beijing, China

    Xiwei Xu

  3. Eastern Taiwan Earthquake Research Center (E-TEC), National Dong Hwa University, Hualian, Taiwan

    Wen-Yen Chang

  4. Center for Integrated Research and Education of Natural Hazards, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan

    Masataka Ando

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Xu, C., Xu, XW. (2021). A Panoramic View of the Landslides Triggered by the May 12th, 2008 Mw 7.9 Earthquake in Wenchuan, China. In: Lo, CH., Xu, X., Chang, WY., Ando, M. (eds) Earthquake Geology and Tectonophysics around Eastern Tibet and Taiwan. Atmosphere, Earth, Ocean & Space. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6210-5_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics