Abstract
On August 8, 2017, a Ms = 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Jiuzhaigou Valley, in Sichuan Province, China (N: 33.20°, E: 103.82°). Jiuzhaigou Valley is an area recognized and listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1992. Data analysis and field survey were conducted on the landslide, collapse, and debris flow gully, to assess the coseismic geological hazards generated by the earthquake using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), remote-sensing imaging, laser range finders, geological radars, and cameras. The results highlighted the occurrence of 13 landslides, 70 collapses, and 25 potential debris flow gullies following the earthquake. The hazards were classified on the basis of their size and the potential property loss attributable to them. Consequently, 14 large-scale hazards, 30 medium-sized hazards, and 64 small hazards accounting for 13%, 28%, and 59% of the total hazards, respectively, were identified. Based on the variation tendency of the geological hazards that ensued in areas affected by the Kanto earthquake (Japan), Chi-chi earthquake (Taiwan China), and Wenchuan earthquake (Sichuan China), the study predicts that, depending on the rain intensity cycle, the duration of geological hazard activities in the Jiuzhaigou Valley may last over ten years and will gradually decrease for the following five to ten years before returning to pre-earthquake levels. Thus, necessary monitoring and early warning systems must be implemented to ensure the safety of residents, workers and tourists during the construction of engineering projects and reopening of scenic sites to the public.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Chen T (2012) The rescue, conservation, and restoration of heritage sites in the ethnic minority areas ravaged by the Wenchuan earthquake. Frontiers of Architectural Research 1 (1): 77–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.02.006
Chen XC, Cui YF (2017) The formation of the Wulipo landslide and the resulting debris flow in Dujiangyan City, China. Journal of Mountain Science 14: 1100–1112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4392-1
Chen XQ, Cui P, You Y, et al. (2015) Engineering measures for debris flow hazard mitigation in the Wenchuan earthquake area. Engineering Geology 194: 73–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.10.002
Chiara C, Giorgio P, Shahina T, Maria T (2013) First steps towards a landslide inventory map of the Central Karakoram National Park. European Journal of Remote Sensing 46 (1): 272–287. https://doi.org/10.5721/EuJRS20134615
Chiou SJ, Cheng CT, Hsu SM, et al. (2007) Evaluating landslides and sediment yields induced by the Chi-Chi earthquake and heavy rainfalls. Journal of Geoengineering 2 (2): 73–82. https://doi.org/10.6310/jog.2007.2 (2).4
Cigna F, Tapere D, Lee K (2018) Geological hazards in the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the UK: From the global to the local scale perspective. Earth-Science Reviews 176: 166–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.09.016
Cui P, Chen XQ, Liu SQ, et al. (2007) Techniques of debris flow prevention in national parks. Earth Science Frontiers 14 (6): 172–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-5791(08)60009-3
Cui P, Chen XQ, Zhu YY, et al. (2011) The Wenchuan Earthquake (May 12, 2008), Sichuan Province, China, and resulting geological hazards. Natural Hazards 56: 19–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9392-1
Cui P, Liu SQ, Tang BX, et al. (2003) Prevention mode of debris flow in national parks: taking the world natural heritage (Jiuzhaigou) as an example. Science in China Ser. E Technological Sciences 2003: 33 (Sup): 1–9. (In Chinese)
Cui P, Liu SQ, Tang BX, et al. (2005) Research and Prevention of Debris Flow in National Parks. Bejing: cience Press. (In Chinese)
Dai LX, Xu Q, Fan XM, et al. (2017) A preliminary study on spatial distribution patterns of landslides triggered by Jiuzhaigou earthquake in Sichuan on August 8th, 2017 and their susceptibility assessment. Journal of Engineering Geology 25 (4): 1151–1164.
Deng GP. (2011) Study of tourism geosciences landscape formation and protection of Jiuzhaigou world natural heritage site. PhD thesis. Chengdu University of Technology. (In Chinese)
Erdelj M, Król M, Natalizio E (2017) Wireless Sensor Networks and Multi-UAV systems for natural disaster management. Computer Networks 124 (2017) 72–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2017.05.021
Fallahi A (2015) National Planning Commission, Nepal Earthquake 2015. Post Disaster Needs Assessment, Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission, Singha.
Fang H, Cui P, Pei LZ, et al. (2012) Model testing on rainfallinduced landslide of loose soil in Wenchuan earthquake region. Natural Hazards and Earth System Science 12: 527–533. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-12-527-2012
Ge YG, Cui P, Zhang JQ, et al. (2015) Catastrophic debris flows on July 10th 2013 along the Min River in areas seriously-hit by the Wenchuan earthquake. Journal of Mountain Science 12 (1): 186–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3100-7
Gerald F, Wieczorek EL, Geist RJ, Motyka MJ (2007) Hazard assessment of the Tidal Inlet landslide and potential subsequent tsunami, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Landslides 4: 205–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-007- 0084-1
Hu KH, Cui P, Wang CC, et al. (2010) Characteristic rainfall for warning of debris flows. Journal of Mountain Science 7: 207–214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-010-2022-2
Huang RQ (2009) Geohazard assessment of the Wenchuan earthquake. Science Press, Beijing, China. (In Chinese)
Huang RQ (2011) After effect of geohazards induced by the Wenchuan earthquake. Journal of Engineering Geology 19 (2): 145–151. (In Chinese)
Hungr O, Leroueil S, Picarelli L (2014) The Varnes classification of landslide types, an update. Landslides 11: 167–194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-013-0436-y
Inoue K (2001) The Kanto Earthquake (1923) and sediment disasters. The Earth Monthly 23: 147–154. (In Japanese).
Jakob M (2005) A size classification for debris flows. Engineering Geology 79: 151–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.01.006
Klimes J (2013) Landslide temporal analysis and susceptibility assessment as bases for landslide mitigation, Machu Picchu, Peru. Environmental Earth Science 70: 913–925. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2181-2
Koi T, Hotta N, Ishigaki I, et al. Prolonged impact of earthquake-induced landslides on sediment yield in a mountain watershed: The Tanzawa region, Japan. Geomorphology 101: 692–702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.03.007
Lollino G, Audisio C (2006) UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy affected by geological problems, specifically landslide and flood hazard. Landslides 3 (4): 311–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-006-0059-7
Margottini C, Fidolini F, Iadanza C, et al. (2015) The conservation of the Shahr-e-Zohak archaeological site (central Afghanistan): Geomorphological processes and ecosystembased mitigation. Geomorphology 239: 73–90. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.12.047
Pavlova I, Makarigakis A, Depret T, et al. (2017) Global overview of the geological hazard exposure and disaster risk awareness at world heritage sites. Journal of Cultural Heritage 28: 151–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2015.11.001
Raso E, Faccini F, Firpo M, et al. (2014) Rockfall hazard analysis and prevention in the middle-eastern sector of the Cinque Terre area (Italy). In: Abstract, 17th Joint Geomorphological Meeting in Liege, Belgium.
Su LJ, Hu KH, Zhang WF, et al. (2017) Characteristics and triggering mechanism of Xinmo landslide on 24 June 2017 in Sichuan, China. Journal of Mountain Science 14: 1689–1700. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4609-3
Tang C, Asch TWJV, Chang M, et al. (2012) Catastrophic debris flows on 13 August 2010 in the Qingping area, southwestern China: The combined effects of a strong earthquake and subsequent rainstorms. Geomorphology 139-140: 559–576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.12.021
UNESCO, 2017. World Heritage list. Available on: http://whc. unesco.org/en/list/, accessed on 8 December 2017.
Wieczorek GF, Geist EL, Motyka RJ, et al. (2007) Hazard assessment of the Tidal Inlet landslide and potential subsequent tsunami, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Landslides 4: 205–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-007-0084-1
Xu Q, Li WL (2010) Distribution of large-scale landslides induced by the Wenchuan Earthquake. Journal of Engineering Geology 18 (6): 818–826. (In Chinese)
Yin YP, Cheng YL, Liang JT, et al. (2016) Heavy-rainfallinduced catastrophic rockslide-debris flow at Sanxicun, Dujiangyan, after the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake. Landslides 13: 9–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-015-0554-9
Zhang YS, Cheng YL, Yin YP, et al. (2014) High-position debris flow: A long-term active geological hazard after the Wenchuan earthquake. Engineering Geology 180: 45–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.05.014
Zhao ZH. (2002) The application of ground penetrating radar to the investigation of geologic hazard. The Chinese Journal of Geological Hazard and Control 13 (2): 100–102. (In Chinese)
Zvelebill J, Moser M (2001) Monitoring based time-prediction of rock falls: three case-histories. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Part B: Hydrology, Oceans and Atmosphere 26: 159–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1464-1909 (00)00234-3
Acknowledgment
This study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41790432) and the International partnership program of CAS (Grant No. 131551KYSB20160002).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, Xq., Chen, Jg., Cui, P. et al. Assessment of prospective hazards resulting from the 2017 earthquake at the world heritage site Jiuzhaigou Valley, Sichuan, China. J. Mt. Sci. 15, 779–792 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4785-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4785-1