Predicting Storm-triggered Landslides
Abstract An overview of storm-triggered landslides is presented. Then a recently developed and extensively verified landslide modeling system is used to illustrate the importance of two important but presently overlooked mechanisms involved in landslides. The model's adaptive design makes the incorporation of new physical mechanisms convenient. For example, by implementing a land surface scheme that simulates macropore features of fractured sliding material in the draining of surface ponding, it explains why precipitation intensity is critical in triggering catastrophic landslides. Based on this model, the authors made projections of landslide occurrence in the upcoming 10 years over a region of Southern California, using atmospheric parameters provided by a highresolution climate model under a viable emission future scenario. Current global coupled ocean–atmosphere climate model (CGCM) simulations of precipitation, properly interpreted, provide valuable information to guide studies of storm-triggered lan...