A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean are highly susceptible to landslides. Following recent landslide incidents, Jarðfeingi (Faroese Earth and Energy Directorate) has pointed out, that the risk of human lives or of property being lost or affected by landslides may be increasing....

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Main Authors: M.-P. J. Dahl, L. E. Mortensen, A. Veihe, N. H. Jensen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2010-02-01
Series:Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/10/159/2010/nhess-10-159-2010.pdf
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spelling doaj-42f28738cdde494f849f7e7c51e661962020-11-24T22:45:54ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812010-02-01102159170A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe IslandsM.-P. J. DahlL. E. MortensenA. VeiheN. H. JensenThe Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean are highly susceptible to landslides. Following recent landslide incidents, Jarðfeingi (Faroese Earth and Energy Directorate) has pointed out, that the risk of human lives or of property being lost or affected by landslides may be increasing. This paper aims at presenting and testing a simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands, using few key parameters. The susceptibility model holds information about both landslide initiation areas and runout zones. Landslide initiation areas are determined from slope angle thresholds (25°–40°) and soil cover data, while runout zones are delineated using the angle of reach approach taking into account the presence/absence of geological benches in the runout path, which has not been considered in earlier studies. Data input is obtained from a landslide database containing 67 debris flows throughout the Faroe Islands. Angle of reach values differ significantly with the presence/absence of geological benches in the runout path. Two values of angle of reach, 21.5° and 27.6°, are used for calculating runout zones. The landslide susceptibility model is tested in a study area at the town of Klaksvík in the northern part of the Faroe Islands. A map validation comparing predicted susceptibility zones with a validation-dataset of 87 actual landslides in the study area reveal that 69% and 92%, respectively, of actual landslide initiation areas and runout zones are correctly predicted. Moreover 87% of the actual landslides are included in the overall predicted landslide susceptibility areas. http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/10/159/2010/nhess-10-159-2010.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author M.-P. J. Dahl
L. E. Mortensen
A. Veihe
N. H. Jensen
spellingShingle M.-P. J. Dahl
L. E. Mortensen
A. Veihe
N. H. Jensen
A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
author_facet M.-P. J. Dahl
L. E. Mortensen
A. Veihe
N. H. Jensen
author_sort M.-P. J. Dahl
title A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands
title_short A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands
title_full A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands
title_fullStr A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands
title_full_unstemmed A simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands
title_sort simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the faroe islands
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
issn 1561-8633
1684-9981
publishDate 2010-02-01
description The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean are highly susceptible to landslides. Following recent landslide incidents, Jarðfeingi (Faroese Earth and Energy Directorate) has pointed out, that the risk of human lives or of property being lost or affected by landslides may be increasing. This paper aims at presenting and testing a simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands, using few key parameters. The susceptibility model holds information about both landslide initiation areas and runout zones. Landslide initiation areas are determined from slope angle thresholds (25°–40°) and soil cover data, while runout zones are delineated using the angle of reach approach taking into account the presence/absence of geological benches in the runout path, which has not been considered in earlier studies. Data input is obtained from a landslide database containing 67 debris flows throughout the Faroe Islands. Angle of reach values differ significantly with the presence/absence of geological benches in the runout path. Two values of angle of reach, 21.5° and 27.6°, are used for calculating runout zones. The landslide susceptibility model is tested in a study area at the town of Klaksvík in the northern part of the Faroe Islands. A map validation comparing predicted susceptibility zones with a validation-dataset of 87 actual landslides in the study area reveal that 69% and 92%, respectively, of actual landslide initiation areas and runout zones are correctly predicted. Moreover 87% of the actual landslides are included in the overall predicted landslide susceptibility areas.
url http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/10/159/2010/nhess-10-159-2010.pdf
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