Luca Schilirò

In this paper we describe the results of a preliminary analysis in static conditions of the deformation affecting the upper portion of the southern escarpment of the Monte Bove massif, a high mountain slope composed of carbonate rocks in the Sibillini Mountains (Central Apennines, Italy). The rock mass structure is featured by closely spaced bedding and regularly spaced and persistent shear joints (small faults). The shear joints dip at approximately 75° towards the rock mass, whereas bedding is almost sub-horizontal. At the outcrops of the shear joints, deformations have produced long gaping fractures parallel to the slope crest and obsequent scarps. These observations, together with a predisposing rock mass structure, suggest that a large-scale flexural toppling is active. Deformations likely accelerated during the high magnitude earthquakes (Mw 6.5-7) that have periodically affected the region and were accompanied by failures on the slope face. The main aim of the study is to assess if the deformation mechanism under static conditions could evolve into a large-scale failure after seismic events, with catastrophic consequences for the downslope valley. Considering the structural characteristics of the rock mass, 2D static numerical analyses have been carried out with a non-commercial finite element code (FELIX), which incorporates a constitutive model suited for the analysis of anisotropic equivalent continua. The model accounts for strength and deformability features of the discontinuity sets and the rock they comprise. Preliminary results are discussed as a first step toward subsequent dynamic analysis.

Rainstorm-induced landslides are a widespread geomorphological hazard that can lead to major emergencies, causing severe damage to life and property. Due to the extent of the areas usually affected by these phenomena (up to thousands of km²) and/or their typical high areal density, in the early stages of the emergency it can be useful to reconstruct a comprehensive, albeit preliminary, overview of the landslides. With this aim, in this work we provide an outline of the landslides that occurred in the eastern part of the Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy) after two severe rainstorms in May 2023. By combining information collected during the emergency through direct field inspections and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) surveys with preliminary analyses of historical rainfall/landslide data, we inferred the main characteristics of the landslides (e.g., movement type, involved materials, triggering mechanisms) and the relation with antecedent landslide phenomena, rainfall exceptionality, and anthropogenic activities. The latter were found to have likely contributed to landslides triggering by increasing water discharge and, in turn, infiltration and runoff erosion (i.e., inadequate drainage devices) and steepening slope gradients (e.g., road cuts). The vastness of the territory hit by the May 2023 landslides and their exceptional areal density can be explained not only with the extreme rainfall intensity (>500 years at several rainfall stations), but also with the widespread occurrence of slope materials which are very sensitive to sudden changes in hydraulic conditions. The high landslide susceptibility of the area is confirmed by the fact that many of the May 2023 landslides occurred at or close to previously identified and mapped landslide sites.

Earthquake-triggered landslides (EQTLs) are a widespread phenomenon which frequently occur after significant seismic events, causing additional damage and casualties. Over the past two decades, the topic of earthquake-triggered landslides has seen a significant increase in attention from the scientific community. This growing interest is evident through the multitude of articles appearing in international, peer-reviewed journals. In this study, we report the main features of a web-GIS database containing the most relevant scientific articles on EQTLs (i.e., more than 800 articles published between 1984 and 2021). After a description of the structure and utilization method of the Web-GIS, we provide a synthetic analysis of the collected articles, to provide an overview of publication trends on EQTLs theme worldwide.

Landslides are one of the most hazardous(危险) secondary(二次) effects of earthquakes(地震) due(由于) to the potential(潜在) for large-scale(规模) damage(损伤) and long-term(学期) alterations to landscapes. During the 2016–2017 seismic sequence(序列) in Central Italy, many earthquake(地震)-triggered landslides (EQTLs) affected the road network(网络) and mountain trails. In this study, a methodological approach(方法) for analysing EQTLs, based on data(数据) derived from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys, is shown. The approach(方法) is applied to investigate(探讨) the geometric, structural(结构), geomechanical, and kinematic features of the Foce rockslide, which is introduced in the back analysis(分析). The investigation(调查) involved three main(主要) steps: (i) set up of UAV-based Virtual Outcrop Models (VOMs) of the slope(边坡), (ii) a geomechanical characterisation of the rock mass(大众) through the VOM interpretation(解释) and conventional(常规) field data(数据), and (iii) 3D Limit Equilibrium (LE) slope(边坡) stability(稳定性) analyses(分析). This study highlights the potential(潜在) of UAV surveys for providing valuable(宝贵) data(数据) for stability(稳定性) analyses(分析), especially in emergency(紧急) conditions such(这样) as in the aftermath of seismic events.

Rainfall-induced landslides represent a major threat to human activities, and thus an improved understanding of their triggering mechanisms is needed. The paper reports some preliminary inferences on this topic, based on the data recorded over a 2-year period by a multi-parametric monitoring station located on one of the slopes of the Monterosso catchment (Cinque Terre, north-western Italy). This catchment has experienced multiple, concurrent shallow landslides after intense rainfall events. After defining a soil hydraulic model through data interpretation and numerical simulations, slope stability analyses were performed to elucidate several aspects related to shallow landslide occurrence. Both long-term climate conditions and single rainfall events were simulated via physically based approaches. The findings from these simulations enabled us to assume the pattern of infiltration and quantify the impact of soil hydraulic behavior on landslide triggering conditions. In this regard, various analyses were carried out on the same triggering event both at local scale and in the overall catchment, with a view to highlighting the role of initial soil moisture and soil hysteretic behavior in slope stability.

Over the last 2 decades, the topic of earthquake-triggered landslides (EQTLs) has shown increasing relevance in the scientific community. This interest is confirmed by the numerous articles published in international, peer-reviewed journals. In this work we present a database containing a selection of articles published on this topic from 1984 to 2021. The articles were selected through a systematic search on the Clarivate™ Web of Science™ Core Collection online platform and were catalogued into a web-based GIS (web-GIS), which was specifically designed to show different types of information. After a general analysis of the database, for each article the following aspects were identified: the bibliometric information (e.g. author(s), title, publication year), the relevant topic and sub-topic category (or categories), and the earthquake(s) addressed. The analysis allowed us to infer general information and statistics on EQTLs (e.g. relevant methodological approaches over time and in relation to the scale of investigation, most studied events), which can be useful to obtain a spatial distribution of the articles and a general overview of the topic.

This paper deals with the origin of the Pretare clastic deposit (PRA), which crops out along the Morricone fluvial valley in the Central Apennines of Italy. With the aim of deciphering the genesis of the PRA deposit, geological s.l. and geomorphological analyses were carried out allowing for the interpretation of the PRA deposit as a rock avalanche. Furthermore, geological cross sections constrained by well-log and field survey data, together with stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and morphometric analyses, allowed us to assign the deposit to a catastrophic rock slope failure, which occurred during a cold climate of the Late Pleistocene. Several issues concerning the propagation mechanisms were inferred from the mapping of 350 boulders over the entire accumulation area and from the measure of the morphometric parameters of the landslide body. We also performed a restoration of the potential source area by comparing the reconstructed pre- and post-failure DEMs. A missing volume of 8.41 × 10⁶ m³ was estimated on the south-eastern side of the Vettore Mt., which is consistent with the deposit volume computed from the geological interpretation (10.56 × 10⁶ m³). The outcomes of this study provide useful insights for a better understanding of the Quaternary morpho-evolution of the Central Apennines area where analogous rock avalanche events marked the recent evolution of the belt.

Over the last two decades, the topic of earthquake-triggered landslides (EQTLs) has shown an increasing relevance in the scientific community. This interest is confirmed by the numerous articles published in the international, peer-reviewed journals. In this work we present a database containing a selection of articles published on this topic from 1984 to 2021. The articles were selected through a systematic search on the Clarivate analytics’ Web of Science-Core Collection™ online platform and were catalogued into a web-GIS, which was specifically designed to show different types of information. After a general analysis of the database, for each article were identified the bibliometric information (e.g., author(s), title, publication year), the relevant topic/sub-topic category(s) and the addressed earthquake(s). The analysis allowed to infer general information and statistics on EQTLs (e.g., relevant methodological approaches over time and in relation to the scale of investigation, most-studied events), which can be useful to get a spatial distribution of the articles and a general overview of the topic.