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Coastal and Marine Slope Stability and Landslides

Overview

The coastal urban regions of the Pacific margin of the United States are growing rapidly, putting increasing demands on coastal infrastructure and lifelines, such as highways, utilities and community services. These structures and services, as well as the general population that are located in the coastal zone, are at risk from coastal landslides, which are triggered by a variety of phenomena including long-term and seasonal changes in the water table as a result of changing land use, coastal erosion caused by natural response to changes in sea level and changes in sediment transport patterns caused by construction of dams, breakwaters and other coastal structures, and episodic disastrous earthquakes and storms. Coastal landslides can be significant contributors to longshore sediment load; hence, increase in the frequency of landslides can in some cases also contribute to environmental degradation through local amplification of sedimentation in nearshore habitats. This project focuses on characterizing the geologic environment, properties, form, and historic incidence of coastal landsliding on the Pacific Ocean coast of California, which was chosen because of its diversity of geology and landslides that is representative of many western U.S. coastal landslide-prone regions. This information will then be used to extract more specific information about the triggering mechanisms for the different types of landslides and/or geologic setting; specific parameters that lead to increased landslide susceptibility of the different formations. Coastal and fjord landslides into water have been associated with catstrophic tsunami innundation in historic time. This project will develop the linkage between landslide volume and mechanics; bathymetry; and tsunami runup height.

Start/End Dates 10/1/2002 - 9/30/2008 Location Coastal urban regions of the Pacific margin of the United States Investigators Rob Kayen, Project Chief Homa Lee Eric Geist Brad Carkin Cheryl Hapke Mark Reid K.M. Schmidt

Map of southern Big Sur Coast area showing sediment yield from coastal landslides and active slope distribution. Excerpt from from Hapke and others, 2004, Maps Showing Estimated Sediment Yield From Coastal Landslides and Active Slope Distribution Along the Big Sur Coast, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, California, USGS Scientific Investigations Map 2852.

Objectives

The focus of this project is to develop a regional understanding of coastal landslide extent, location, timing, and impact. The objective is to develop an understanding of the context under which coastal landslides occur. The elements of that context are parent geologic substrate; weathering, alteration and soil formation; topography, groundwater and drainage; and transient environmental loads in the form of earthquakes, rainfall, storm-wave attack, and land development. We have decided to focus our attention on California's and Alaska's coast initially, the site of many large landslides that often disrupt the major transportation route along the coast. These slides consume large sums of taxpayer dollars for maintenance and remediation, in addition to the inconvenience and danger they cause. The first year of the project was focused on developing a regional and spatial framework of understanding of the Big Sur coast and identifying particular sites and slides to study in detail.

Approach

In FY2005 our highest prioity is the funding support of Homa Lee's tsunami landslide research effort (task 6) in the fjords of Seward and Valdez AK. This research task was delayed one year to assist the program in cost containment. Also, the delay of this task and excellent progress and productivity on the other tasks are sufficient to request that the final year of this project be changed to FY08, so that the latter years can be used to write up findings from the FY05-FY06 field seasons. This project is an example of multi-team collaboration on a broad interdisciplinary topic. This project has developed a suite of new technologies for coastal land loss research. We encourage the program to modify the final year, accordingly. Our strategy for investigating these elements is to:

1. measure historic landslide activity and the consequent amounts of sediment input into the littoral system,
2. discern if the amounts of sediment input correlate with land use (e.g., the presence of the highway near the coast and within the landslide zone),
3. determine the influence of variables such as topography, sediment/rock properties, groundwater, earthquakes, and wave impact on landslide occurrence and type.

Emphasis is directed to stressors that result in region-wide coastal land-loss or clustered triggering of slides, as opposed to isolated landslide events. We have opened communication with coastal agencies and academic experts to get a broader understanding of the information needs regarding coastal landslides. One of the project goals is to assess the current state of models that are used to predict coastal landslide occurrence under these varied environmental loads. For example, recent work by Hampton suggests that water table locally perched by lower permeability layers may be a very important factor in controlling slope stability even in areas that have been traditionally interpreted as wave erosion induced. Another aspect is the influence of seismic loading. While the methodology for the analysis of compacted embankments is advanced, natural seismically induced landslides have not been subjected to the same rigorous evaluation. Thus, we are building on recent work at the USGS and UC Berkeley to develop more rigorous methods of seismic deformation analysis for natural slopes. Finally, the project will conduct a synthesis of the historical and spatial distribution data with the predictive modeling capabilities to identify vulnerable coastline and levels of transient loads required to trigger future landslides. In the broad sense, this third phase is directed toward establishing simplified guidelines for assessing landslide hazard risk that can be used by coastal agencies for land use planning.

Tasks and SubTasks

Digital Photogrammetric Analysis of Coastal Landslide Processes (Hapke) Ultra High Resolution of Failure Mechanics of Young Coastal Terrace Deposits (Collins & Sitar COOP partners) 3-D slope stability of large coastal landslides (Reid) Topographic, tectonic, and geologic controls on planar, translational landslides along the Pacific Coast (Schmidt) Modeling of Dynamic Displacements of Coastal Ground (Kayen) Coastal and Near Shoreline Submarine Landslides (Lee)

Tectonic uplift, sediment ponding, and their effects on liquefaction potential: Conceptual diagram of the intersection of earthquake load and soil liquefaction resistance capacity.

Products

see web site: "Coastal and Marine Ground Deformation Hazards", http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/geotech/

Barnhardt, W.A. and Kayen, R.E. (1999) Internal Structure of Earthquake-Induced Landslides in Anchorage, Alaska. Seismological Research Letters, V. 70 (2), p. 231-2

Barnhardt, W.A. and Kayen, R.E., 2000, Radar Structure and Hazard Assessment of Coastal Landslides in Anchorage, Alaska, Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Special journal issue on coastal hazards. (WPG M00-0186).

Barnhardt, W.A., Jaffe, B., and Kayen, R.E., 1999, Evaluation of landslide hazards with ground penetrating radar, Lake Michigan Coast, Proc. Coast Sediments Conference ’99, New York.

Barnhardt, W.A., Jaffe, B.E., and Kayen R.E., 1999, Mitigation of landslide hazards at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan: Geol. Soc. Amer. Abs. with Prog, v. 31, no. 7, p. A384.

Collins, B. and Sitar, N., Geotechnical Observations of Recent Coastal Bluff Failures, Pacifica, California, GSA.

Conference proceedings paper and presentation: Highway Geology Symposium, San Luis Obispo, CA, August 2002.

Desgagnes, P., Locat, J., Lee, H.J., and Heroux, M.C., 2001, The geotechnical characterization of mass movements along the New Jersey margin: a tool for hazard assessment: Abstracts, Chapman Conference on the Formation of Sedimentary Strata on Continental Margins, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Gardner, J.V., Lee, H., Field, M.E., and Prior, D.B., 1996, Are the Humboldt slide blocks slide blocks or antidunes?: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 77, no. 46, p. F330.

Gardner, J.V., van den Ameele, E.J., Gelfenbaum, G., Barnhardt, W., Lee, H., and Palmer, S., 2001. Mapping Puget Sound Delta Fronts after 2001 Earthquake, EOS, 82, 485-488.

Goff, J.A., Wheatcroft, R.A., Lee, H., Drake, D.E., Swift, D.J.P., and Fan, S., 2002. Spatial variability of shelf sediments in the STRATAFORM natural laboratory, Continental Shelf Research, 22, 1199-1223.

Hampton, M.A., Lee, H.J., and Locat, J., 1996, Submarine landslides: Reviews of Geophysics, v. 34, p. 33-59.

Hapke, Cheryl, 2002, Sediment yield from coastal landslides based on historical digital terrain modeling: Big Sur, California, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v.34, n. 6, p. 48.

Hapke, Cheryl, 2001, Historical Assessment of Landslide Volume Contribution to the MBNMS Along the Big Sur Coast, CA: CA Dept. of Transportation Big Sur Coastal Highway Management Plan, p.1-14.

Hapke, C.J. and Green, K.R., 2004, Map Showing Coastal Cliff Retreat Rates Along the Big Sur Coast, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, California, USGS Scientific Investigations Map 2853. (http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2004/2853/)

Hapke, C.J., Green, K. and Dallas, K., 2003, Estimated Sediment Yield From Coastal Landslides and Active Slope Distribution Along the Big Sur Coast, Report to the Coast Highway Management Plan, California Dept. of Transportation District 5, 47 p. (http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/bigsur/news.htm)

Hapke, C.J., Green, K.R., and Dallas, K., 2004, Maps Showing Estimated Sediment Yield From Coastal Landslides and Active Slope Distribution Along the Big Sur Coast, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, California, USGS Scientific Investigations Map 2852. (http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2004/2852/)

Harp, E.L. Jibson, R.W., Kayen, R.E., Keefer, D.K., Sherrod, B.S., Carver, G.A., Collins, B.D., Moss, R.E.S., and Sitar, N. (2003) Landslides and Liquefaction Triggered by the M7.9 Denali Fault Earthquake of 3 November 2002, GSA Today 13(8) p. 4-10.

Hughes-Clarke, J.E., Mayer, L.A., Goff, J.A., Lee, H.J., and Wakefield, W., 1996, Regional seabed characterization through analysis of angular response of seabed backscatter strength: application to STRATAFORM east and west coast surveys: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 77, no. 46, p. F329.

Kayen, Robert, Nicholas Sitar, Gary Carver, Brian Collins, Robb Moss (2002) Geotechnical Reconnaissance of the 3 November 2002, Mw 7.9, Denali - Earthquake, Alaska, abs. S72F-1330, Amer. Geophys. Union. Dec. 2000, San Francisco, CA.

High-resolution crosshole radar tomography; application to liquefaction-induced changes in soil on Treasure Island, by R. E. Kayen, W. A. Barnhardt, U.S. Geological Survey; Scott Ashford, University of California at San Diego; Kyle Rollins, Brigham Young University; D. L. Minasian, and B. A. Carkin, U.S. Geological Survey. Professional Paper 1630. p. 3-10.

Kayen, R. E., Barnhardt, W. A., Ashford, S. and Rollins, K. (2001) Crosshole Radar Tomography for Characterization of Liquefaction-Induced Changes in Soil Density at Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA, Proceedings of the Annual Conference, Japanese Geotechnical Society, Tokushima City, Shikoku, Japan, June 12-14, 2001.

Kayen, R.E. and Mitchell, J.K. (1999) Liquefaction potential during earthquakes by Arias intensity: Closure Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Amer. Soc. Civil Eng. Vol. 125(7), p. 626-629.

Kayen, R.E., Barnhardt, WA, and Palmer, SP (1999) Geomorphological and Geotechnical Issues Affecting the Seismic Slope Stability of the Duwamish River Delta, Port of Seattle, Washington, in, W.M. Elliott and P. McDonough, eds. Optimizing Post-Earthquake Lifeline System Reliability, American Society of Civil Engineers, Lifeline Earthquake Engineering Monograph No. 16, p.482-492.

Kayen, R.E., Edwards, B. D., Lee, H. J., (1999) "Nondestructive Laboratory Measurement of Geotechnical and Geoacoustic Properties through Intact Core-liner," Nondestructive and Automated Testing for Soil and Rock Properties, ASTM Special Technical Publication-1350, W. A. Marr and C.E. Fairhurst eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, p. 83-94.

Kayen, R.E., Ozaki, R, Tanaka, Y., and Takada, S. (2001) Multi-directional Displacement of Compliant Soil, Proceedings of the 26th Japanese Society of Civil Engineers Earthquake Engineering Symposium, August 1-3, 2001, Sapporo, Hokkaido Japan, p. 693-696.

Lee, H.J., 1996, Evidence of rapid gravitational mass movement on the submerged floans of the Hawaiian Islands: Proceedings of the "Pierre Beghin" international workshop on rapid gravitational mass movements, Grenoble, France.

Lee, H.J., Dartnell, P., Israel, K., and Locat, J., 1996, Evaluating submarine slope stability regionally: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 77, p. 5317.

Lee, H.J., Dartnell, P., Minasian, D., Israel, K., Wong, F., and Locat, J., 1998, Evaluating shallow-seated submarine slope stability regionally: comparison between the Eel margin and the Los Angeles margin, California: SEPM-IAS Research Conference, Strata and Sequences on Shelves and Slopes, Program and Abstract Volume, Catania, Sicily.

Lee, H.J., Dartnell, P., Minasian, D., Wong, F., Israel, K., and Locat, J., 1998, Shallow-seated slope stability contrasts: Eureka, California vs. Santa Monica Bay, California: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union.

Lee, H.J., Kayen, R.E., Gardner, J.V., and Locat, J., 2003. Characteristics of several tsunamitenic submarine landslides, In Submarine Mass Movements and their Consequences, Locat and Meinert (eds), p. 357-366.

Lee, H.J., Locat, J., Dartnell, P., Minasian, D., and Wong, F., 2001, Regional variability of factors that influence offshore slope stability, synthesis within a GIS: Proceedings of the 11th Meeting of the European Union of Geosciences, Strasbourg, France.

Lee, H.J., Locat, J., Dartnell, P., and Wong, F., 1999, Regional variability of slope stability: application to the Eel margin, California: Marine Geology, v. 154, p. 305-321.

Lee, H.J., Syvitski, J.P.M., Parker, G., Orange, D., Locat, J., Hutton, J.W.H., and Imran, J., 2002. Distinguishing sediment waves from slope failure deposits: field examples, including the ‘Humboldt Slide’ and modelling results, Marine Geology, 192, 79-104.

Lee, H.J., and Locat, J., 2001, Submarine mass movements and strata formation: a geotechnical perspective: Abstracts, Chapman Conference on the Formation of Sedimentary Strata on Continental Margins, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Lee. H.J., Locat, J., Dartnell, P., Minasian, D., and Wong, F., 2000, A GIS-based regional analysis of the potential for shallow-seated submarine slope failure: Proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium on Landslides, Cardiff, Wales.

Leroueil, S., Vaunat, J., Picarelli, L., Locat, J., Lee, H.J., and Faure, R., 1996, Geotechnical characterization of slope movements: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Landslides, Trondheim, Norway.

Locat, J, Lee, H., Kayen, R., Israel, K., Savoie, M.-C., and Boulanger, E., 2002. Shear strength development with burial in Eel River margin slope sediments, Marine Geotechnology, 20, 111-136..

Locat, J., Gardner, J.V., Lee, H.J., Mayer, L., Hughes-Clarke, J.E., and Kammerer, I., 1999, Using multibeam sonar surveys for submarine landslide investigations: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Slope Stability Engineering, Shikoku, Japan, p. 127-134.

Locat, J., Lee, H.J., Schwab, W., Twichell, D.C., and Nelson, C.H., 1996, Analysis of the mobility of far-reaching debris flows on the Mississippi Fan, Gulf of Mexico: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Landslides, Trondheim, Norway.

Locat, J., Savoie, M.-C., Lee, H.J., Kayen, R.E., and Israel, K., 1996, Structuration and mobilization of Eel River margin sediment: factors and behavior: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 77, no. 46, p. F317.

Locat, J., and Lee, H.J., 2002, Submarine landslides: advances and challenges: Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 39, p. 193-212.

Miyata, T., Y. Tanaka, R. Kayen, S. Takada, and B. J. Shih Ground-Penetrationg Radar Image of the 1999 Rupture in Chi-Chi Earthquake, Taiwan, International Workshop on Physics of Active Fault, February 26-27, 2002 at NIED, Tsukuba, Japan

Orange, D.L., McAdoo, B.G., Moore, J.C., Tobin, H., Screaton, E., Chezar, H., Lee, H.J., Reid, M., and Vail, R., 1997, Headless submarine canyons and fluid flow on the toe of the Cascadia accretionary complex: Basin Research, v. 9, p. 303-312.

Ozaki, R, Takada, S. and Kayen, R.E. (2001) Multi-directional Newmark Sliding Analysis with Compliant Materials, Japanese Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 47(3) 571-578.

Pratson, L.F., Lee, H.J., Parker, G., Garcia, M.H., Coakley, B.J., Mohrig, D., Locat, J., Mello, U., Parsons, J.D., Choi, S.-U., and Israel, K., 1996, Studies of mass-movement processes on continental slopes: Oceanography, v. 9, no. 3, p. 168-172.

Proceedings, IX International Symposium on Landslides, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2004.

Schmidt, K.M. and Reid, M.E., 2002, Deep-seated landsliding and rock mass strength along the Big Sur coast, CA: EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, v. 83, n. 47, p. F551.

Schwab, W.C., Lee, H.J., Twichell, D.C., Locat, J., Nelson, C.H., McArthur, W.G., and Kenyon, N.H., 1996, Sediment mass-flow processes on a depositional lobe, outer Mississippi Fan: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 66, no. 5, p. 916-927.

Surface Wave Investigation and Analysis of Earthquake-Induced Liquefaction Sites in Asia, Amer. Geophys. Union. Dec. 2000, San Francisco, CA.

Troost, K.G., Booth, D.B., Shimel, S.A., Haugerud, R.A., Kramer, S.L., Kayen, R.E., and Barnhardt, W.A., 2002, Geologic controls on ground failures in Seattle and vicinity during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, Seismological Research Letters, v. 72, p. 396.

Urgeles, R., Locat, J., Lee, H.J., Martin, F., and Konrad, J., 2001, The Saguenay Fjord: integrating marine geoophysical and geotechnical data for spatial slope stability analysis: Proceedings of the 11th Meeting of the European Union of Geosciences, Strasbourg, France.

Cooperators

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