Landslide monitoring and warning systems in Mexico

Abstract

Landslides are one of the major hazards in Mexico. Either triggered by earthquakes, volcanic activity or precipitation, their consequences have been quite significant. Casualties from landslides disasters have varied over the years from just a few to many thousands of people. There has been a considerable economic impact as well. However, in comparison with other hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and floods, landslides have not captured yet the full attention of civil protection authorities or even of a large group of academicians. Not surprisingly, there is a lack of a well-structured national strategy to prevent, confront, cope with and mitigate the catastrophic consequences of landslides taking place in vulnerable communities in both rural and urban areas. In recent years, the frequency of mass movement processes has increased as a result of high-magnitude rainfall events. Therefore, in the light of changes in climatic conditions which involve an increase of precipitation in tropical and subtropical regions, the necessity of designing and establishing monitoring and warning systems for rainfall-triggered landslides in Mexico is rather urgent. This does not imply that monitoring and warning systems for landslides associated with seismicity and volcanic activity are not significant, but based on historical accounts detailed in literature and on field observations, it is clear that rainfallinduced landslides represent the largest mass-movement hazard in the Mexican territory. Accordingly, the aim of this chapter is to provide a preliminary analysis of the impact of landslides triggered by precipitation in order to set up a framework for developing integrated monitoring and warning systems.