Application of dendrochronology and electrical resistivity tomography for studies on landslide activity (Southern Poland)

Abstract

Landslides are a common geodynamic hazard in mountainous regions worldwide, including the Polish part of the Carpathian Mts. Intensive development in this area increases the scale of landslide risk, e.g. landslides pose a threat to infrastructure, cause significant financial losses and even fatalities. Thus detecting landslide activity, hazards and risks became important issue for spatial planning in the area. I applied dendrochronological method and electrical resistivity tomography for estimate landslide activity and identify the geological structure in Kamesznica landslide, in the Beskid Slaski Mts (Western Carpathians, southern Poland). Eccentricity index values were applied to date past landslide events. Dendrochronological results allowed to determine the mean frequency of landsliding at each sampling tree. Obtained results of the dendrochronological study show that the most dynamic landsliding occurred in: 2013-2017, 2005-2006, 2010, 2002, 1988-1989 and 1993. Between the episodes of landsliding there were periods of relative stability. The results of measurements using the ERT method allowed to distinguish high and low-resistivity packets and also estimate surface of rupture. Application of dendrochronology and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is an attractive solution for studies on landslide activity and can be used in the local spatial planning system.