Unique landslides (loess slide-flows) induced by an extreme rainstorm in 2018 on the Loess Plateau: A new geological hazard and erosion process

Abstract

Currently, the vegetation has recovered well in most areas of the Loess Plateau in China, and soil erosion has significantly decreased. However, the heavy rainfall event in July 2018 triggered many instances of a unique type of loess landslides (i.e., slide-flows) on the gully-slopes with vegetation recovery in the Nanxiaohegou Basin on the Loess Plateau. This rainfall event was unusual and was a persistent heavy rainfall. The accumulated rainfall from 24 June to 10 July was 232.2 mm, which comprised 42% of the mean annual rainfall. A loess slide-flow is characterized by combining two movement types of the slide and flow. The loess slide-flows first slide on the gully-slopes and then turn into long run-out earthflows moving downstream, delivering vast amounts of sediment to the river. The average landslide erosion rates were 110.8–134.9 kg/m2. These loess slide-flows generally did not occur individually but in groups, which were characterized by large numbers, high density, small scale, and shallow depth. The changes of vegetation characteristics and soil characteristics both had a significant impact on the scale of the landslides. Grass with high coverage had an adverse effect on the occurrence of shallow landslides. The adverse hydrological effects of the plant may offset the weak root reinforcement. Loess slide-flows have become a new geological hazard and erosion process on the Loess Plateau. Loess slide-flows are a prominent ecological and environmental problem after vegetation restoration, and more attention should be paid to loess slide-flows in the future.