Morphogenic Uncertainties of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake: Generating or Reducing?

Zhikun Ren; Zhuqi Zhang; Jinhui Yin; Fuchu Dai; Huiping Zhang

doi:10.1007/s12583-014-0456-0

Volume 25 Issue 4

Aug 2014

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Journal of Earth Science > 2014 > 25(4): 668-675.

Zhikun Ren, Zhuqi Zhang, Jinhui Yin, Fuchu Dai, Huiping Zhang. Morphogenic Uncertainties of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake: Generating or Reducing?. Journal of Earth Science, 2014, 25(4): 668-675. doi: 10.1007/s12583-014-0456-0

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Zhikun Ren, Zhuqi Zhang, Jinhui Yin, Fuchu Dai, Huiping Zhang. Morphogenic Uncertainties of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake: Generating or Reducing?. Journal of Earth Science, 2014, 25(4): 668-675. doi: 10.1007/s12583-014-0456-0

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Morphogenic Uncertainties of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake: Generating or Reducing?

doi: 10.1007/s12583-014-0456-0

1.
State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, 100029, China
2.
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

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Corresponding author: Zhikun Ren, rzk@ies.ac.cn
Received Date: 28 Nov 2012
Accepted Date: 20 May 2013
Publish Date: 01 Aug 2014

Abstract

Abstract

Landscape evolution in active orogen region is inevitably affected by landslides associated with strong earthquakes, rain or storm. However, quantitative studies of the orogenic or eroded volumes are rarely demonstrated. The 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake triggered serious landsliding, consequently, a large amount of landslide material. However, the landslide volume is estimated mainly on the landslides areas interpreted in their semi-automated landslide mapping algorithm. However, the total volume of landslides triggered by the Wenchuan Earthquake amounts to 5–10 times bigger than the expected upper bound according to the empirical correlation between "total landslide volume" and "moment magnitude". Here we show that the total landslide volume estimation has large uncertainties to be used to determine whether the Wenchuan Earthquake generates or reduces relief. Thus, the widely held view that large dip-slip and oblique-slip earthquakes build mountainous topography may still be applicable to the Wenchuan Earthquake in Longmen Shan area. To challenge this view, simple landslide volume and co-seismic uplift comparison is not enough, i.e., more data are needed.
- Wenchuan Earthquake,
- landslide,
- mass wasting,
- topographic generation

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References(44)

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Morphogenic Uncertainties of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake: Generating or Reducing?

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