Rainfall threshold analysis and landslide susceptibility mapping in Wudu County

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is the analysis of rainfall thresholds and landslide susceptibility mapping in order to assist the prediction, mitigation and management of slope instability in the Wudu county in China. Firstly, the rainfall thresholds were assessed using the Antecedent soil water status (ASWS) model based on landslides induced by multi-temporal rainfall events in the Wudu county. Secondly, three separate susceptibility maps were produced using historic landslide inventories, and inventories reflecting single landslide triggering events, i.e. the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and heavy rain storms. The separate maps were combined to illustrate the maximum landslide probability of all three landslide susceptibility maps. The results show that rainfall thresholds could be applied to forecast rainfall-induced landslides, and the integrated landslide susceptibility map could be used for planning of spatial development as well as emergency response actions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.