Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska
On 17 October 2015, a large-scale subaerial landslide occurred in Taan Fiord, Alaska, which released about 50 Mm<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>3</mn&g...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/21/4258 |
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| author | Xiaoru Dai Barbara Schneider-Muntau Wolfgang Fellin Andrea Franco Bernhard Gems |
| author_facet | Xiaoru Dai Barbara Schneider-Muntau Wolfgang Fellin Andrea Franco Bernhard Gems |
| author_sort | Xiaoru Dai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | On 17 October 2015, a large-scale subaerial landslide occurred in Taan Fiord, Alaska, which released about 50 Mm<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>3</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> of rock. This entered the water body and triggered a tsunami with a runup of up to 193 m. This paper aims to simulate the possible formation of a weak layer in this mountainous slope until collapse, and to analyze the possible triggering factors of this landslide event from a geotechnical engineering perspective so that a deeper understanding of this large landslide event can be gained. We analyzed different remote-sensing datasets to characterize the evolution of the coastal landslide process. Based on the acquired remote-sensing data, Digital Elevation Models were derived, on which we employed a 2D limit equilibrium method in this study to calculate the safety factor and compare the location of the associated sliding surface with the most probable actual location at which this landslide occurred. The calculation results reflect the development process of this slope collapse. In this case study, past earthquakes, rainfall before this landslide event, and glacial melting at the toe may have influenced the stability of this slope. The glacial retreat is likely to be the most significant direct triggering factor for this slope failure. This research work illustrates the applicability of multi-temporal remote sensing data of slope morphology to constrain preliminary slope stability analyses, aiming to investigate large-scale landslide processes. This interdisciplinary approach confirms the effectiveness of the combination of aerial data acquisition and traditional slope stability analyses. This case study also demonstrates the significance of a climate change for landslide hazard assessment, and that the interaction of natural hazards in terms of multi-hazards cannot be ignored. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:53:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-528cff8fa9bb4a48895a33d9a18021cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:53:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-528cff8fa9bb4a48895a33d9a18021cc2023-11-22T21:30:48ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-10-011321425810.3390/rs13214258Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, AlaskaXiaoru Dai0Barbara Schneider-Muntau1Wolfgang Fellin2Andrea Franco3Bernhard Gems4Unit of Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaUnit of Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaUnit of Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaUnit of Hydraulic Engineering, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaUnit of Hydraulic Engineering, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaOn 17 October 2015, a large-scale subaerial landslide occurred in Taan Fiord, Alaska, which released about 50 Mm<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>3</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> of rock. This entered the water body and triggered a tsunami with a runup of up to 193 m. This paper aims to simulate the possible formation of a weak layer in this mountainous slope until collapse, and to analyze the possible triggering factors of this landslide event from a geotechnical engineering perspective so that a deeper understanding of this large landslide event can be gained. We analyzed different remote-sensing datasets to characterize the evolution of the coastal landslide process. Based on the acquired remote-sensing data, Digital Elevation Models were derived, on which we employed a 2D limit equilibrium method in this study to calculate the safety factor and compare the location of the associated sliding surface with the most probable actual location at which this landslide occurred. The calculation results reflect the development process of this slope collapse. In this case study, past earthquakes, rainfall before this landslide event, and glacial melting at the toe may have influenced the stability of this slope. The glacial retreat is likely to be the most significant direct triggering factor for this slope failure. This research work illustrates the applicability of multi-temporal remote sensing data of slope morphology to constrain preliminary slope stability analyses, aiming to investigate large-scale landslide processes. This interdisciplinary approach confirms the effectiveness of the combination of aerial data acquisition and traditional slope stability analyses. This case study also demonstrates the significance of a climate change for landslide hazard assessment, and that the interaction of natural hazards in terms of multi-hazards cannot be ignored.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/21/4258subaerial landslideremote sensing data2D limit equilibrium methodtriggering factor |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoru Dai Barbara Schneider-Muntau Wolfgang Fellin Andrea Franco Bernhard Gems Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska Remote Sensing subaerial landslide remote sensing data 2D limit equilibrium method triggering factor |
| title | Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska |
| title_full | Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska |
| title_fullStr | Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska |
| title_short | Engineering-Geological Analysis of a Subaerial Landslide in Taan Fiord, Alaska |
| title_sort | engineering geological analysis of a subaerial landslide in taan fiord alaska |
| topic | subaerial landslide remote sensing data 2D limit equilibrium method triggering factor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/21/4258 |
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