Disaster Mechanism and Evolution Characteristics of Landslide–Debris-Flow Geohazard Chain Due to Strong Earthquake—A Case Study of Niumian Gully

Abstract

Taking the Niumian Gully landslide–debris-flow geohazard chain as an example, we analyze the disaster mechanism of the landslide–debris-flow geohazard chain and its evolution process through field investigation as a reference for disaster prevention and risk reduction in areas with strong earthquakes by analyzing the accumulative sliding amount and the critical rainfall for debris flow formed by loose deposits. Due to the 8.0 Ms earthquake in Wenchuan, the cumulative sliding of the slope reached 230.51 m, much greater than the critical sliding in the Longmen Mountain earthquake area. Permanent damage to the slope occurred, resulting in a landslide, which provided the material source for the occurrence of debris flows. When the study area experienced concentrated rainfall (e.g., exceeding 10.31 mm/h or 54.67 mm/d), loose deposits in the basin began to form a debris flow, causing a landslide–debris-flow geohazard chain. During the evolution process of the geohazard chain, the following stages were observed: pre-earthquake gestation, landslide starting during a strong earthquake, landslide blocking a channel and forming a dammed lake, bursting of the dammed lake flood–debris-flow, sliding of loose deposits, and reciprocating loose-deposit sliding and debris flows. Thus, the formation of the Niumian Valley geohazard chain can be attributed to the combined result of strong earthquake activities and rainfall. In addition, under the action of rainfall, the occurrence of the debris flow and unstable sliding of loose deposits also caused the reciprocating occurrence of debris flows, loose-deposit sliding, and flood-induced debris flows in the study area.