Abstract
The 2018, Mw 6.6 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake in Japan triggered over 10,000 landsliding in an area spanning about 500 km2, altering the local topography and leading to the accumulation of loose deposits on hillslopes and in valleys. However, a comprehensive post-seismic landslide inventory and an assessment of topographic changes are lacking, hindering a quantitative hazard assessment. Additionally, the extent of vegetation recovery in areas affected by coseismic landslides, a key indicator of post-seismic debris flow hazard, has not been evaluated. Here, we utilize high-resolution digital elevation models and multi-temporal satellite imagery to analyze topographic changes and vegetation dynamics in the earthquake’s epicentral area (seismic intensity >5.5). We observe that the event roughened the overall gentle topography of the region and made the slopes steeper. Owing to the absence of significant rainstorms and snowmelt post 2018, only a few debris remobilizations (60) and new landslides (80) have occurred in the affected region. Moreover, we noticed a slow vegetation recovery in the post-seismic phase, suggesting that the likelihood of debris flows and gully erosion remains elevated, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and assessment.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
