Abstract
The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) has historically recorded some of the largest intensity earthquakes in North America, including significant earth movements that resulted in about 2000 felt earthquakes during 1811–1812. The region continues to experience mass wasting due to earth movements. The aim of this study is to understand the influence of geologic variables on mass wasting processes in the greater Cape Girardeau area, which forms the commercial center of Missouri's fertile "Bootheel" region. Earth movement susceptibility was evaluated in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties and portions of Stoddard and Scott counties by mapping potential landslide features on topographic maps, field verification of such features, and geospatial analysis of recent LiDAR imagery. In order to evaluate the changes in surface morphology, slope inclination, hillshade aspect, hydrology, lithology, faults, precipitation, seismicity, sinkholes, and geohydrology were considered. Geographically weighted analysis of the geomorphologic variables identified zones of relative risk. In addition, data were evaluated for oil and gas pipelines, bridges, utilities, and open pit mines associated with mass wasting on public and economic infrastructure. The results suggest that anthropogenic changes commonly associated with urban development impact land use, runoff, infiltration, and slope failures, while sustained precipitation and seismic ground shaking tend to trigger landslides. The scale of mass wasting in the study area was robust, varying from as small as one-half hectare to as much as 67 km2. The vulnerability of the population in susceptible areas tends to increase at the lower elevations and on alluvial flood plains. Thus, hazard susceptibility evaluation can be useful in both community planning as well as emergency preparedness.
Highlights
Geohazards pose a significant threat to people and property and can cause significant damage to infrastructure and economic loss, often resulting in governments and non-governmental organizations expending significant resources to mitigate their impacts (Rogers 2004; Mahalingam et al 2016)
The seismic energy emanating from the failed Precambrian rift triggered the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquake sequence in Missouri at depths of 20 km to 30 km, accompanied by large-scale sliding of the Chickasaw Bluffs
Changes in vegetation were observed from the changes in soil characteristics and moisture resulting from shallow mass wasting on slope sides (Fig. 5)
Summary
Geohazards pose a significant threat to people and property and can cause significant damage to infrastructure and economic loss, often resulting in governments and non-governmental organizations expending significant resources to mitigate their impacts (Rogers 2004; Mahalingam et al 2016). Mass wasting features like shallow earthflows, rotational slumps, translational slides, sand boils, or lateral spreads are common features along erosional escarpments in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) (Lanbo and Yong 2001; Rogers 2004). Missouri experienced an intense intraplate earthquake of Mw 7.2–8.2 on December 16, 1811, followed by aftershocks of Mw 7.4 that same day that caused multiple surface ruptures with mass wasting. Other moderate scenarios correlated with substantial landslides and reports of sand blows following aftershocks of Mw 4.0–5.0, and about 2000 felt tremors between December 1811 and April 1812 (Reiss et al 2005). The seismic energy emanating from the failed Precambrian rift triggered the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquake sequence in Missouri at depths of 20 km to 30 km, accompanied by large-scale sliding of the Chickasaw Bluffs
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