Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, Burundi
Accurate and detailed multitemporal inventories of landslides and their process characterization are crucial for the evaluation of landslide hazards and the implementation of disaster risk reduction strategies in densely-populated mountainous regions. Such investigations are, however, rare in many r...
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/6/259 |
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| author | Désiré Kubwimana Lahsen Ait Brahim Pascal Nkurunziza Antoine Dille Arthur Depicker Louis Nahimana Abdellah Abdelouafi Olivier Dewitte |
| author_facet | Désiré Kubwimana Lahsen Ait Brahim Pascal Nkurunziza Antoine Dille Arthur Depicker Louis Nahimana Abdellah Abdelouafi Olivier Dewitte |
| author_sort | Désiré Kubwimana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Accurate and detailed multitemporal inventories of landslides and their process characterization are crucial for the evaluation of landslide hazards and the implementation of disaster risk reduction strategies in densely-populated mountainous regions. Such investigations are, however, rare in many regions of the tropical African highlands, where landslide research is often in its infancy and not adapted to the local needs. Here, we have produced a comprehensive multitemporal investigation of the landslide processes in the hillslopes of Bujumbura, situated in the landslide-prone East African Rift. We inventoried more than 1200 landslides by combining careful field investigation and visual analysis of satellite images, very-high-resolution topographic data, and historical aerial photographs. More than 20% of the hillslopes of the city are affected by landslides. Recent landslides (post-1950s) are mostly shallow, triggered by rainfall, and located on the steepest slopes. The presence of roads and river quarrying can also control their occurrence. Deep-seated landslides typically concentrate in landscapes that have been rejuvenated through knickpoint retreat. The difference in size distributions between old and recent deep-seated landslides suggests the long-term influence of potentially changing slope-failure drivers. Of the deep-seated landslides, 66% are currently active, those being mostly earthflows connected to the river system. Gully systems causing landslides are commonly associated with the urbanization of the hillslopes. Our results provide a much more accurate record of landslide processes and their impacts in the region than was previously available. These insights will be useful for land management and disaster risk reduction strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:20:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-690142dd4fb84e598ee3b21d983b99fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:20:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-690142dd4fb84e598ee3b21d983b99fe2023-11-22T00:27:43ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632021-06-0111625910.3390/geosciences11060259Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, BurundiDésiré Kubwimana0Lahsen Ait Brahim1Pascal Nkurunziza2Antoine Dille3Arthur Depicker4Louis Nahimana5Abdellah Abdelouafi6Olivier Dewitte7Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Ibn Batouta, Rabat-Agdal, Rabat 1014, MoroccoDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Ibn Batouta, Rabat-Agdal, Rabat 1014, MoroccoDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Burundi, Avenue de l’UNESCO 1, Bujumbura 1550, BurundiDepartment of Earth Sciences, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080 Tervuren, BelgiumDivision of Tourism and Geography, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Heverlee, BelgiumDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Burundi, Avenue de l’UNESCO 1, Bujumbura 1550, BurundiDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Ibn Batouta, Rabat-Agdal, Rabat 1014, MoroccoDepartment of Earth Sciences, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080 Tervuren, BelgiumAccurate and detailed multitemporal inventories of landslides and their process characterization are crucial for the evaluation of landslide hazards and the implementation of disaster risk reduction strategies in densely-populated mountainous regions. Such investigations are, however, rare in many regions of the tropical African highlands, where landslide research is often in its infancy and not adapted to the local needs. Here, we have produced a comprehensive multitemporal investigation of the landslide processes in the hillslopes of Bujumbura, situated in the landslide-prone East African Rift. We inventoried more than 1200 landslides by combining careful field investigation and visual analysis of satellite images, very-high-resolution topographic data, and historical aerial photographs. More than 20% of the hillslopes of the city are affected by landslides. Recent landslides (post-1950s) are mostly shallow, triggered by rainfall, and located on the steepest slopes. The presence of roads and river quarrying can also control their occurrence. Deep-seated landslides typically concentrate in landscapes that have been rejuvenated through knickpoint retreat. The difference in size distributions between old and recent deep-seated landslides suggests the long-term influence of potentially changing slope-failure drivers. Of the deep-seated landslides, 66% are currently active, those being mostly earthflows connected to the river system. Gully systems causing landslides are commonly associated with the urbanization of the hillslopes. Our results provide a much more accurate record of landslide processes and their impacts in the region than was previously available. These insights will be useful for land management and disaster risk reduction strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/6/259landslide inventorycontrolling and triggering factorsriver incisiongully erosionhistorical aerial photographsAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Désiré Kubwimana Lahsen Ait Brahim Pascal Nkurunziza Antoine Dille Arthur Depicker Louis Nahimana Abdellah Abdelouafi Olivier Dewitte Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, Burundi Geosciences landslide inventory controlling and triggering factors river incision gully erosion historical aerial photographs Africa |
| title | Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, Burundi |
| title_full | Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, Burundi |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, Burundi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, Burundi |
| title_short | Characteristics and Distribution of Landslides in the Populated Hillslopes of Bujumbura, Burundi |
| title_sort | characteristics and distribution of landslides in the populated hillslopes of bujumbura burundi |
| topic | landslide inventory controlling and triggering factors river incision gully erosion historical aerial photographs Africa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/6/259 |
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