Effects of soil crust on the collapsing erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residual soil

Collapsing erosion is a unique phenomenon commonly observed on the granite residue hillslopes in the tropical and subtropical regions of southern China,characterized by its abrupt occurrence and significant erosion volumes.However,the impacts of soil crust conditions on the erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residual soils have only been studied to a limited extent.To address this issue,this study investigates the impacts of three soil crust conditions(i.e.,without crust,10-minute crust,and 20-minute crust)on gully morphology,rainfall infiltration,and runoff and sediment yield during slope erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residues(classified as Acrisols)in Yudu County,Ganzhou City,Jiangxi Province,China,using simulated rainfall tests and photographic methods.The results showed that as the strength of the soil crust increased,the capacity of moisture infiltration and the width and depth of the gully as well as the sediment concentration and yield ratio decreased;at the same time,the runoff ratio increased.The sediment yield in the without-crust test was found to be 1.24 and 1.43 times higher than that observed in the 10-minute crust and 20-minute crust tests,respectively.These results indicate that soil crusts can effectively prevent slope erosion and moisture infiltration,while providing valuable insights for the management of soil erosion in natural environments.

Mechanism of colluvial landslide induction by rainfall and slope construction:A case study

The landslide hazards occurring in the complex geological genesis accumulation body are usually controlled by the coupling action of many internal and external factors.Therefore,this paper takes the dam-front Danbo accumulation body landslide of Yangfanggou hydropower station on the Yalong River as the geological prototype,and discusses the process and mechanism of slope stability degradation under the combined action of rainfall and slope construction.Based on the detailed understanding of the basic characteristics of the accumulation body,the development characteristics of the landslide and the construction situation of the slope engineering,the study conducted correlation analysis between rainfall and landslide displacement,the physical and mechanical tests of all types of rocksoil masses,and the numerical simulation testing of seepage field variation of the landslide section.It is found that the special slope structure and material composition of the old landslide accumulation layer on the upper part of the Danbo accumulation body are the internal factors for the occurrence of thrust loadinduced landslide,and the construction of the slope engineering not only creates free space conditions for sliding,but also provides channels for the infiltration of rainfall into the slope after confluence,which is an external factor that caused the mechanical properties of the sliding zone soil to gradually weaken from the trailing edge to the leading edge.The geomechanical model of such landslide is that the active section of the trailing edge produces the"source of force",the transition section of the middle section affects the occurrence of sliding,and the anti-sliding section of the leading edge controls the occurrence of landslide hazards.The results of this research provide not only a useful supplement to the theory of landslide formation mechanisms but also a scientific basis for guiding the prevention and control of similar hazards.

Formation Mechanism and Stability Assessment of the Colluvial Deposit Slope in Zuoyituo

The basic features of the colluvial deposit slope in Zuoyituo such as geological conditions, dimensions, slip surfaces and groundwater conditions are described concisely in this paper. The formation mechanism of the slope is discussed. It is considered that the formation of the colluvial deposit slope in Zuoyituo has undergone accumulation, slip, load, deformation and failure. The effects of rainfall on slope stability are categorized systematically based on existing methodology, and ways to determine the effects quantitatively are presented. The remained slip force method is improved by the addition of quantitative relations to the existing formulae and programs. The parameters of the colluvial deposit slope are determined through experimentation and the method of back-analysis. The safety factors of the slope are calculated with the improved remained slip force method and the Sarma method. The results show that rainfall and water level in the Yangtze River have a significant effect on the stability of the colluvial deposit slope in Zuoyituo. The hazards caused by the instability of the slope are assessed, and prevention methods are put forward.

Thermoluminescence Dating of Colluvial Deposits and Its Application to Chronological Study of Paleoearthquakes

On the basis of studies of lithofacies features of colluvial deposits, applicability of thermoluminescence dating of the colluvial deposits at different lithofacies positions, and reliability of the dating result, the thermoluminescent ages of colluvial deposit from different types of faults were determined. From the above, the ages of paleoseismic events and their recurrence intervals on the related fault were deduced.

Effect of rainfall on a colluvial landslide in a debris flow valley

A colluvial landslide in a debris flow valley is a typical phenomena and is easily influenced by rainfall. The direct destructiveness of this kind of landslide is small, however, if failure occurs the resulting blocking of the channel may lead to a series of magnified secondary hazards. For this reason it is important to investigate the potential response of this type of landslide to rainfall. In the present paper, the Goulingping landslide, one of the colluvial landslides in the Goulingping valley in the middle of the Bailong River catchment in Gansu Province, China, was chosen for the study. Electrical Resistivity Tomography(ERT), Terrestrial Laser Scanning(TLS), together with traditional monitoring methods, were used to monitor changes in water content and the deformation of the landslide caused by rainfall. ERT was used to detect changes in soil water content induced by rainfall. The most significant findings were as follows:(1) the water content in the centralupper part(0~41 m) of the landslide was greaterthan in the central-front part(41~84 m) and(2) there was a relatively high resistivity zone at depth within the sliding zone. The deformation characteristics at the surface of the landslide were monitored by TLS and the results revealed that rainstorms caused three types of deformation and failure:(1) gully erosion at the slope surface;(2) shallow sliding failure;(3) and slope foot erosion. Subsequent monitoring of continuous changes in pore-water pressure, soil pressure and displacement(using traditional methods) indicated that long duration light rainfall(average 2.22 mm/d) caused the entire landslide to enter a state of creeping deformation at the beginning of the rainy season. Shear-induced dilation occurred for the fast sliding(30.09 mm/d) during the critical failure sub-phase(EF). Pore-water pressure in the sliding zone was affected by rainfall. In addition, the sliding L1 parts of the landslide exerted a discontinuous pressure on the L2 part. Through the monitoring and analysis, we conclude that this kind of landslide may have large deformation at the beginning and the late of the rainy season.

Colluvial wedges associated with pre-historical reverse faulting paleoearthquakes

Colluvial wedges collapsed from fault scarp can also be used to study reverse faulting paleoearthquakes. Generating processes of reverse faulting colluvial wedges are much more complex than those associated with normal faulting earthquakes. Reverse faulting colluvial wedge is also in triangle shape, and dies away from the fault. Contact between the fault and the colluvial wedge may be a simple straight reverse fault or a combination of an erosive surface in the upper part and a reverse fault in the lower part. Contents and grain sizes increase near the fault and along the base of a colluvial wedge. Based on examples from the piedmont reverse fault and fold along the northern Tainshan, we studied characteristics of reverse faulting colluvial wedges, and discussed the generating processes of reverse faulting colluvial wedges. Reverse faulting generates an unstable scarp hanging in the air immediately after an earthquake. Fallen material deposits along the base of newly formed fault scarp. Erosive

Initiation and evolution of coarse-grained deposits in the Late Quaternary Lake Chenghai source-to-sink system:From subaqueous colluvial apron(subaqueous fans)to Gilbert-type delta

Investigating the formation and evolution of coarse-grained deposits in modern lakes and the relevant controlling conditions is indispensable to the prediction of reservoir sandbodies, disaster prediction,and limnological research. The source-to-sink system of coarse-grained deposits in Lake Chenghai, a deep,scarped Late Quaternary lake, was investigated in this study based on 62 outcrops, Advanced Land Observing Satellite(ALOS) digital elevation model(DEM) data, and regional geological survey data. The findings include the following:(1) the source areas of coarse-grained deposits in Lake Chenghai were lithologically classified into carbonate source areas, basaltic source areas and siliciclastic source areas, and were geomorphically categorized as scarp type or confluence type. Subaqueous colluvial aprons have formed downstream of the carbonate source areas and scarp-type basaltic source areas, while Gilbert-type deltas have formed downstream of siliciclastic source areas and confluence-type basaltic source areas.(2) The formation and evolution of coarse-grained deposits are controlled by the sediment flux that evolves in synchrony with the geomorphic evolution of the source areas and the sink regimes. Scarps represent the initial landform of the source areas.Source material rolls off or slides down scarps or forms small-scale debris flows before entering the lake. The source material initially formed subaqueous colluvial apron(synonymous with subaqueous fans) where sufficient space was present to accommodate sediments and the basement angle exceeded than the natural angle of repose. As weathering and denudation have progressed, the initial scarps have transformed into confluencetype slopes, and the source material has formed medium-and large-scale debris flows that have entered the lake, resulting in an increase in sediment flux. Consequently, the subaqueous colluvial aprons have rapidly grown and developed subaerial deposits, which have evolved into larger-scale Gilbert-type deltas that overlie the initial aprons.(3) The morphology and distribution of coarse-grained deposits vary in response to differences in quantity and composition of materials from different source areas, which resulting from different rates of weathering and denudation and different sediment input regimes. Firstly, the size and surface slope angle of a subaqueous colluvial apron from a carbonate source are smaller than those of a subaqueous colluvial apron of basaltic origin. Secondly, a Gilbert-type delta from a basaltic source features a greater slope angle and a thicker topset than does a Gilbert-type delta of siliciclastic origin, and the latter exhibits a longer foreset and a thicker bottomset than in the former. Thirdly, the sizes of subaqueous colluvial aprons are not strongly correlated with the sizes of the source areas, while the sizes of Gilbert-type deltas are.

Uncertainties of landslide susceptibility prediction considering different landslide types

Most literature related to landslide susceptibility prediction only considers a single type of landslide,such as colluvial landslide,rock fall or debris flow,rather than different landslide types,which greatly affects susceptibility prediction performance.To construct efficient susceptibility prediction considering different landslide types,Huichang County in China is taken as example.Firstly,105 rock falls,350 colluvial landslides and 11 related environmental factors are identified.Then four machine learning models,namely logistic regression,multi-layer perception,support vector machine and C5.0 decision tree are applied for susceptibility modeling of rock fall and colluvial landslide.Thirdly,three different landslide susceptibility prediction(LSP)models considering landslide types based on C5.0 decision tree with excellent performance are constructed to generate final landslide susceptibility:(i)united method,which combines all landslide types directly;(ii)probability statistical method,which couples analyses of susceptibility indices under different landslide types based on probability formula;and(iii)maximum comparison method,which selects the maximum susceptibility index through comparing the predicted susceptibility indices under different types of landslides.Finally,uncertainties of landslide susceptibility are assessed by prediction accuracy,mean value and standard deviation.It is concluded that LSP results of the three coupled models considering landslide types basically conform to the spatial occurrence patterns of landslides in Huichang County.The united method has the best susceptibility prediction performance,followed by the probability method and maximum susceptibility method.More cases are needed to verify this result in-depth.LSP considering different landslide types is superior to that taking only a single type of landslide into account.

Design and verification of portable direct shear tester with application to remolded colluvium geomaterials

The mechanical properties of colluvium strongly govern the stability of colluvial slopes, and they arc essential for the related analysis and design. Nevertheless, their measurement is not easy on account of heterogeneity in property and difficulty of sampling. This study attempted to evaluate the shear strength of remolded colluvium by means of a simple direct shear test in the field. A portable direct shear tester was designed to overcome the inconvenience and expensiveness of the conventional large-scale in-situ direct shear test. It can be easily assembled and applied for the silnplc field direct shear test. For calibration, the results of the portable direct shear tester were compared with the results of the laboratory direct shear tester for four different types of soil samples, i.e. standard sand, slate debris, arenaceous shale debris and mixture of gravel and sand. Correlation formulas were established based on the calibration, enabling the portable direct shear tester to measure and estimate the shear strength of remoldcd colluvium in field. This study primarily focuses on the colluvium in Central Taiwan, including the lateritic Dadu Terrace and the arcnaceous shale of Taiping-Wufcng mounts. The portable direct shear tester was applied to sites selected in these areas, and the results were furthcr analyzed and discussed.

Soil Formation of "Atlantic Rankers" from NW Spain—A High Resolution Aluminium and Iron Fractionation Study

Atlantic rankers belong to the group of ＂cryptopodzolic rankers＂, which are ubiquitous in the mountainous cool/temperate humid regions of Western Europe. The rankers of Galicia （NW Spain） formed by thousands of years of colluviation. The preponderance of Al-stabilised organic matter （OM） masks the horizonation and polycyclic character （i.e., stratification） of these soils. Cryptopodzolic rankers are generally thought to be the outcome of podzolisation. This soil type is part of the recent discussion on how to classify soils developed from nonvolcanic parent material having andic properties. To better understand the formation processes of these soils, the Al and Fe fractionation of four typical Atlantic rankers were studied by selective dissolution in acid NH4-oxalate, Na-pyrophosphate and the chlorides of K, La and Cu. A high-resolution sampling approach allowed us to investigate the soils in greater detail than simply sampling by horizon. The rankers studied display a distribution of Fe- and AI-OM complexes that is typical of cryptopodzolic soils. However, these organomineral associations were probably immobile due to the high Al saturation. We argue that the soils owe their characteristic chemical status to external factors rather than to translocation of organomineral associations： variations in AI-OM concentrations could be linked to changes in weathering/leaching intensity and colluviation rates caused by anthropogenic disturbances or changes in regional climate regime.

Big Disaster from Small Watershed:Insights into the Failure and Disaster‑Causing Mechanism of a Debris Flow on 25 September 2021 in Tianquan,China

The occurrence of debris fow events in small-scale watersheds with dense vegetation in mountainous areas that result in signifcant loss of life and missing individuals challenges our understanding and expertise in investigating and preventing these disasters.This has raised concerns about the occurrence of large debris fow disasters from small watersheds.This study focused on a catastrophic debris fow that took place in Longtou Gully(0.45 km^(2))in Tianquan County,Ya’an City on 25 September 2021,which resulted in 14 deaths and missing individuals.Through comprehensive feld investigations,highprecision remote sensing data analyses,and numerical simulations,we analyzed the triggering mechanisms and dynamic processes of this event.Our results indicate that the convergence hollow at the channel head exhibited higher hydraulic conditions during rainfall compared to gentle slopes and convex terrains,leading to the instability of colluvial soil due to the expansion of the saturated zone near the soil-bedrock interface.The entrainment of material eroded from the channel resulted in an approximately 4.7 times increase in volume,and the channel scarp with a height of about 200 m amplifed the destructive power of the debris fow.We emphasize the need to take seriously the possibility of catastrophic debris fows in small-scale watersheds,with colluvial deposits in hollows at the channel head under vegetation cover that serve as precursor material sources,and the presence of channel scarps formed by changes in the incision rate of the main river,which is common in the small watershed on both sides.This study provides insights for risk assessment of debris fows in small-scale catchments with dense vegetation cover in mountainous areas,highlighting the importance of vigilance in addressing disasters in small-scale catchments,particularly in regions with increasing human-environment conficts.