Rainfall thresholds for possible landslide occurrence in Ulu Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia using TRMM satellite precipitation estimates

Abstract

This study presents rainfall threshold-triggering landslide based on satellite remote estimates for prediction of possible landslide occurrence in Ulu Kelang, Selangor. Landslide events from 1999 to 2012 were collected. The short and long period of antecedent rainfall days were prepared for landslide days. The rainfall data is obtained from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite precipitation data and have been used to analyze rainfall pattern, accumulated rainfall and rainfall threshold. The accumulated rainfall - accumulated rainfall (E-E) diagram is developed to represent the rainfall threshold in Ulu Kelang, Selangor. The rainfall threshold is divided into three different indexes; no landslide occurrences, minor landslide occurrences and major landslide occurrences. The results show that parameter of rainfall threshold obtained from satellite data estimates are lower than those obtained from rain gauge measurement. Therefore, rainfall threshold based on satellite remote estimates is possible to use for landslide prediction.