Spatio-temporal variability of monsoon precipitation and their effect on precipitation triggered landslides in relation to relief in Himalayas

Abstract

Orography of Himalaya governs the regional weather system and monsoon of Indian sub-continent. The intense persistent precipitation in the form of rainfall during monsoon season causes landslides which are the most frequent naturally occurring hazards in the Himalaya. This study attempts to investigate the spatio-temporal variability of precipitation and their effect on precipitation triggered landslides during monsoon season (June–September) in relation to relief in Himalayan region by utilizing satellite-derived precipitation products (GPM) over the span of 2000–2018 in addition to NASA Landslide Viewer, Global Landslide Catalog and Global Risk Data Platform data for landslides and ASTER DEM for elevation. The results exhibit that the Eastern Himalayas received the highest amount of precipitation of 2385 mm with intensity of 19.5 mm/day, followed by the Central Himalayas with 1860 mm and intensity of 17.5 mm/day and the least in the Western Himalayas with 1400 mm and intensity of 15 mm/day, respectively. The monsoon precipitation in the lower elevations (below 2600 m) are mostly responsible for causing a vast majority of the precipitation induced landslide events with a maximum of 68.66% in the Central Himalayas followed by the Western Himalayas at 62.23% and the least in the Eastern Himalayas at 41.16%. The overall accumulated precipitation and intensity during monsoon season and landslide distribution were strongly correlated with relief pattern. This comprehensive study signifies how relief regulated the occurrences of landslides in monsoon season and recommends vegetation cover and least interference of human-induced land use to alleviate the landslides.