Mapping of landslide susceptibility of coastal cliffs: the Mont-Roig del Camp case study

Authors

  • I. MONTOYA-MONTES Department of Biology and Geology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Fax: (0034)916647490
  • I. RODRÍGUEZ-SANTALLA Department of Biology and Geology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Fax: (0034)916647490
  • M.J. SÁNCHEZ-GARCÍA Department of Biology and Geology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Fax: (0034)916647490
  • J. ALCÁNTARA-CARRIÓ Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences. Universidad Católica de Valencia. C/ Guillem de Castro 94. 46001 Valencia, Spain. Fax: (0034)963153655.
  • S. MARTÍN-VELÁZQUEZ Department of Biology and Geology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Fax: (0034)916647490
  • D. GÓMEZ-ORTIZ Department of Biology and Geology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Fax: (0034)916647490
  • T. MARTÍN-CRESPO Department of Biology and Geology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Fax: (0034)916647490

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1344/105.000001776

Keywords:

Rocky coast, Cliff instability, Landslide susceptibility, Hazard, Geographic Information Systems

Abstract

The weathered and fractured conglomerate cliffs of Mont Roig del Camp constitute a rock fall hazard for the surrounding pocket beaches and, therefore, for the population that frequent them, especially over the summer. Landslide susceptibility of the cliff has been assessed using the Rock Engineering System method (RES). The determinant and triggering factors considered in this study include: wave exposure, shoreline variations, cliff height, cliff slope, geotechnical quality of the rocky mass, superficial runoff and cliff orientations favoring landslides. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been employed to facilitate the information analysis and generate new susceptibility maps. The quality of the rock mass and cliff orientation are the most interactive factors for the stability of the cliff. However, shoreline variations and surface runoff are the most dominant factors in the system. Thus, the quality of the rock mass has been determined to be a basic variable in the cliff characterization because of its high dependence on the variations of the remaining factors. The landslide susceptibility map depicts a predominance of surfaces with moderate degrees of susceptibility concentrated mainly in the headlands, where the combined actions of subaerial and marine processes control the weathering and eroding processes. Therefore, the landslide susceptibility assessment based on this methodology has allowed the identification of hazardous areas that should be considered in future management plans.

References

Baeza, C., Corominas, J., 2001. Assessment of shallow landslide susceptibility by means of multivariate statistical techniques. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 26, 1251-1263.

Balaguer, P., 2005. Tipus i evolució de les costes rocoses de Mallorca. Doctoral thesis. Universitat de les Illes Balears, 374pp.

Barredo, J.I., Benavides, A., Hervás, J., Van Westen, C.J., 2000. Comparing heuristic landslide hazard assessment techniques using GIS in the Tirajana basin, Gran Canaria Island, Spain. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2(1), 9-23.

Barton, N., Lien, R., Lunde, J., 1974. Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mechanics, 6, 189-236.

Bieniawski, Z.T., 1989. Engineering rock mass classifications. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 251pp.

Blanco-Chao, R., Pérez-Alberti, A., 1996. Formas litorales en la costa noroccidental gallega: los sectores acantilados entre Cabo Prioriño (Ferrol) y Punta Frouxeira (Valdoviño). Geographicalia, 33, 3-28.

Bonachea, J., 2006. Desarrollo, aplicación y validación de procedimientos y modelos para la evaluación de amenazas, vulnerabilidad y riesgo debidos a procesos geomorfológicos. Doctoral thesis. Universidad de Cantabria, 356pp.

Brabb, E.E., 1984. Innovative approaches to landslide hazard and risk mapping. In: Canadian Geotechnical Society (ed.). Proceedings 4th International Symposium on Landslides, Toronto, 1, 307-323.

Brabb, E.E., Pampeyan, E.H., Bonilla, M.G., 1972. Landslide susceptibility in San Mateo County, California. U.S. Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Field Studies Map, MF-360.

Budetta, P., Santo, A., Vivenzio, F., 2008. Landslide Hazard mapping along the coastline of the Cilento region (Italy) by means of a GIS-based parameter rating approach. Geomorphology, 94, 340-352.

Carrara, A., 1983. Multivariate models for landslide hazard evaluation. Mathematical Geology, 15, 403-426.

Carrara, A., Cardinali, M., Detti, R., Guzzetti, F., Pasqui, V., Reichenbach, P.,1991. GIS techniques and statistical models in evaluating landslide hazard. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 16, 427-445.

Carrara, A., Cardinali, M., Guzzetti, F., Reichenbach, P., 1995. GIS technology in mapping landslide hazard. In: Carrara, A., Guzzetti, F. (eds.). Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards. The Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publisher, 135-175.

Castellanos, E.A., Van Westen, C.J., 2008. Qualitative landslide susceptibility assessment by multicriteria analysis: A case study from San Antonio del Sur, Guantánamo, Cuba. Geomorphology, 94, 453-466.

Catalonian Meteorological Service, 2008. Butlletí Anual d’Indicadors Climàtics. Any 2007. Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge. Technical Report. 33pp.

Chung, C.F., Fabbri, A., 1993. The representation of geoscience information for data integration. Nonrenewable Resources, 2, 122-139.

Chung, C.F., Fabbri, A., Van Westen, C.J., 1995. Multivariate regression analysis for landslide hazard zonation. In: Carrara, A., Guzzetti, F. (eds.). Geographical Information Systems in Assessing Natural Hazards. The Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 107-133.

Corominas, J., 1987. Criterios para la confección de mapas de peligrosidad de movimientos de ladera. In: Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (ed.). Riesgos Geológicos, Serie Geología Ambiental. Madrid, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), 193-201.

Cruden, D.M., Varnes, D.J., 1996. Landslide types and processes. In: Turner, A.K., Shuster, R.L. (eds.). Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation. Transportation Research Board Special Report 247. Washington, National Academy Press, 36-75.

Cruz de Oliveira, S.M., Catalao, J., Ferreira, O., Dias, J.A., 2008. Evaluation of cliff retreat and beach nourishment in Southern Portugal through photogrammetric techniques. Journal of Coastal Research, 24, 184-193.

CSN, 2001. Proyecto Datación. Madrid, Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, 159pp.

Dai, F.C., Lee, C.F., 2001. Terrain-based mapping of landslide susceptibility using a geographical information system: a case study. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 38, 911-923.

Del Río, L., Gracia, F.J., 2009. Erosion risk assessment of active coastal cliffs in temperate environments. Geomorphology, 112, 82-95.

Emery, K.O., Kuhn, G.G., 1982. Sea cliffs: their processes, profiles, and classification. Geological Society of American Bulletin, 93, 644-654.

Fabbri, A., Chung, C-J., Cendrero, A., Remondo, J., 2003. Is prediction of future landslides possible with a GIS? Natural Hazards, 30, 487-499.

Fall, M., Azzam, R., Noubactep, C., 2006. A multi-method approach to study the stability of natural slopes and landslide susceptibility mapping. Engineering Geology, 82, 241-263.

Ferrer, F.J., 1993. Recomendaciones para el cálculo hidrometeorológico de avenidas. Madrid, CEDEX, Ministerio de Fomento, 76pp.

Foster, C.; Poulton, C.; Harrison, M., 2008. A national hazard assessment of coastal landslides using GI capture systems: a government dataset. In: AGI Geocommunity 08: shaping a changing world, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, 24-25 Sept 08. British Geological Survey.

Galofré, J. 2005. Cliffs erosion management: an overview of Tarragona Coast. In: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services Center (ed.). New Orleans, Proceedings 14th Biennial Coastal Zone Conference, 5pp.

GIOC, Grupo de Ingeniería Oceanográfica y de Costas, 2000. Sistema de Modelado Costero, SMC. Manual de referencia y del usuario. Universidad de Cantabria y Dirección General de Costas, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, 197pp.

Godt, J.W, Baum, R.L, Savage, W.Z., Salciarini, D., Schulz, W.H., Harp, E.L., 2008. Transient deterministic shallow landslide modeling: Requirements for susceptibility and hazard assessments in a GIS framework. Engineering Geology, 102, 214-226.

González de Vallejo, L.I., Ferrer, M., Ortuño, L., Oteo, C., 2002. Ingeniería Geológica. Madrid, Prentice Hall, 715pp.

González-Díez, A., Remondo, J., Díaz de Terán, J.R., Cendrero, A., 1999. A methodological approach for the analysis of the temporal occurrence and triggering factors of landslides. Geomorphology, 30, 95-113.

Gorsevski, P.V., Gessler, P.E., Boll, J., Elliot, W.J., Foltz, R.B., 2006. Spatially and temporally distributed modelling of landslide susceptibility. Geomorphology, 80, 178-198.

Hansen, A., 1984. Landslide hazard analysis. In: Brunsden, D., Prior, D.B. (eds.). Slope Instability. New York, Wiley & Sons, 523-602.

HIDTMA, 2002. Asistencia técnica regeneración senda peatonal, paseo, accesos y áreas de servicio en el tramo de costa comprendido entre la Riera de la Pixerota y L’Estany Gelat, T.M. Montroig del Camp. Ref.: 43-1392. Technical Report.

Hill, S.E., Rosenbaum, M.S., 1998. Assessing the significant factors in a rock weathering system. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 31, 85-94.

Holman, R., 1986. Extreme value statistics for wave run-up on a natural beach. Coastal Engineering, 9(6), 527-544.

Hudson, J.A., 1992. Rock Engineering Systems: theory and practice. Chichester, Ellis Horwood, 185pp.

Hudson, J.A., Harrison, J.P., 1996. Engineering and Rock Mechanics: An Introduction to the principles. Amsterdam, Elsevier, 444pp.

Hunt, I.A., 1959. Design of seawalls and breakwaters. Journal of Waterways and Harbour Division, ASCE 85(WW3), 123-152.

Hutchinson, J.N., 1988. Morphological and geotechnical parameters of landslides in relation to geology and hydrogeology. In: Bonnard, C. (ed.). Lausanne (Rotterdam), Proceedings 5th International Symposium on Landslides, Balkema, 1, 3-35.

ICC, 2006. Orthophotographs scale 1:5000. Instituto Cartográfico de Cataluña. Website: http://www.icc.es.

Iribarren, C.R., Nogales, C., 1949. Protection Des Ports. In: Proceedings. Lisbon, XVIIth International Naval Congress, 31-80.

Irigaray, C., 1995. Movimientos de ladera: inventario, análisis y cartografía de susceptibilidad mediante un Sistema de Información Geográfica. Aplicación a las zonas de Colmenar (Málaga), Rute (Córdoba) y Montefrío (Granada). Doctoral Thesis. Universidad de Granada, 578pp.

Jaboyedoff, M., Labiouse, V., 2003. Preliminary assessment of rockfall hazard based on GIS data. ISRM 2003 – Technology roadmap for rock mechanics, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1, 575-578.

Jiménez, J.A., Valdemoro, H.I., Gracia, V., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., 2000. Estudio sobre la situación del tramo costero Cambrils-Vandellós (T.M. Mont-Roig del Camp). Evolución costera y dinámica litoral. Laboratori d’Enginyeria marítima, E.T.S.E.C.C.P.B, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona. Technical Report.

Lee, E.M., Hall, J.W., Meadowcroft, I.C., 2001. Coastal cliff recession: the use of probabilistic prediction methods. Geomorphology, 30(3-4), 253-269.

Lo, C.M., Lin, M.L., Lee, W.C., Chan, Y.C., Yeh, C.H., 2010. Cliff recession and progressive development of talus deposits around Xiangshan of the Taipei Sishou Hills. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 21, 543-561.

López-Bermúdez, F., Gomáriz-Castillo, F., 2006. Las ramblas, agentes reguladores del litoral mediterráneo ibérico. El ejemplo de la rambla de Las Moreras. Murcia. In: Sanjaume, E., Mateu, J. (eds.). Geomorfología Litoral i Quaternari. Homenatge al Prof. V.M. Rosselló i Verger. Valencia, Universitat de València, 245-257.

López-Geta, J.A., Murillo-Díaz, J.M., Torrens i Plá, J., Alfonso, P.L., Silesio Lillo, J., Hernando Tornadijo, E., 1989. Serie manuales de utilización de acuíferos: Acuífero del Campo de Tarragona. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME). Website: http://aguas.igme.es/igme/homec.htm.

Lorenzo, F., Alonso, A., Pagés, J.L., 2007. Erosion and Accretion of Beach and Spit Systems in Northwest Spain: A Response to Human Activity. Journal of Coastal Research, 23(4), 834-845.

Masana, E., 1995. L’activitat neotectònica a les Cadenes Costero Catalanes. Doctoral Thesis. Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, 444pp.

Mase, H., 1989. Random wave run-up height on gentle slope. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, 115(5), 649-661.

Mateos, R.M., 2001. Los movimientos de ladera en la Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca). Caracterización geomecánica y análisis de peligrosidad. Doctoral Thesis. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 299pp.

Mejía-Navarro, M., García L.A., 1996. Natural hazard and risk assessment using Decision Support Systems. Application, Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 2, 299-324.

Mendoza, E.T., 2008. Coastal vulnerability to storms in Catalan coast. Doctoral Thesis. Universidad Politécnica de Barcelona, 138pp.

MMA, 2002. Proyecto de paseo peatonal, accesos y adecuación medioambiental de las calas situadas en Mont-Roig del Camp, T.M. Mont-Roig del Camp (Tarragona). Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Technical report.

Montoya, I., 2008. Análisis de la susceptibilidad a los movimientos de ladera en los acantilados de la franja costera de MontRoig del Camp (Tarragona). Doctoral Thesis. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 198pp.

Moore, L.J., 2000. Shoreline mapping techniques. Journal of Coastal Research, 16(1), 111-124.

Moore, L.J., Griggs, G.B., 2002. Long-term cliff retreat and erosion hotspots along the central shores of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Marine Geology, 181, 265-283.

MOPU, 1990. Instrucción 5.2-IC. Drenaje Superficial. Madrid, Centro de publicaciones del Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Urbanismo, 84pp.

Naylor, L.A., Stephenson, W.J., Trenhaile, A.S., 2010. Rock coast geomorphology: recent advances and future research directions. Geomorphology, 114, 3-11.

Nunes, M., Ferreira, O., Schaefer, M., Clifton, J., Baily, B., Moura, D., Loureiro, C., 2009. Hazard assessment in rock cliffs at Central Algarve (Portugal): a tool for coastal management. Ocean and Coastal Management, 52, 506-515.

Palmquist, R.C., Bible, G., 1980. Conceptual modelling of landslide distribution in time and space. Bulletin Association Engineering Geologists, 21, 178-186.

Perea, H, Figueiredo, P.M., Carner, J., Gambini, S., Boydell, K., 2003. Paleoseismological data from a new trench across the El Camp Fault (Catalan Coastal Ranges, NE Iberian Peninsula). Annals of Geophysics, 46(5), 764-774.

Remondo, J., 2001. Elaboración y validación de mapas de susceptibilidad de deslizamientos mediante técnicas de análisis espacial. Doctoral thesis. Universidad de Oviedo, 278pp.

Rodríguez, I., Montoya, I., Sánchez, M.J., Carreño, F., 2009. Geographic Information Systems applied to integrated coastal zone management. Geomorphology, 109, 100-105.

Ruff, M., Czurda, K., 2008. Landslide susceptibility analysis with a heuristic approach in the Eastern Alps (Vorarlberg, Austria). Geomorphology, 94, 314-324.

Santacana, N., 2001. Análisis de la susceptibilidad del terreno a la formación de deslizamientos superficiales y grandes deslizamientos mediante el uso de sistemas de información geográfica. Aplicación a la cuenca alta del río Llobregat. Doctoral Thesis. Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, 399pp.

Stockdon, H.F., Holman, R.A., Howd, P.A., Sallenger, A.H. Jr., 2006. Empirical parameterization of setup, swash, and runup. Coastal Engineering, 53(7), 573-588.

Teixeira, S., 2006. Slope mass movements on rocky sea-cliffs: A power-law distributed natural hazard on the Barlavento Coast, Algarve, Portugal. Continental Shelf Research, 26, 1077-1091.

Témez, J.R., 1991. Extended and improved rational method. Version of the Highways Administration of Spain. Madrid, Proceedings of XXIV IAHR Congress, 33-40.

Trenhaile, A.S., 1987. The Geomorphology of Rock Coasts. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 344pp.

Turner, A.K., Schuster, R.L., 1995. Landslide: investigation and mitigation. Transportation Research Board Special Report 247.

Washington, National Academy Press, 673pp.

Van Westen, C.J., 2000. The modelling of landslide hazards using GIS. Surveys in Geophysics, 21, 241-255.

Van Westen, C.J., Rengers, N., Terlien, M.T.J., Soeters, R., 1997. Prediction of the occurrence of slope instability phenomena through GIS-based hazard zonation. Geologische Rundschau, 86, 404-414.

Varnes, D.J. (1984). Landslide hazard zonation: a review of principles and practice. Natural Hazards, 3. Paris, UNESCO, 63pp.

Villanueva, T., Galofré, J., 2002. Conservación y recuperación medio ambiental en las calas de Miami-Platja. T.M. Montroig (Tarragona). Tarragona Coastal Service, Ref.: 43-1461, Technical report.

Zêzere, J.L., Ferreira, A.D., Rodrigues, M.L., 1999. The role of conditioning and triggering factors in the occurrence of landslides: a case study in the area north of Lisbon (Portugal). Geomorphology, 30, 133-146.

Downloads

Published

2023-10-26

Issue

Section

Articles