Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran.

Part of the mountainous semi-arid areas of Iran is geologically and topographically susceptible to landslides. A study was conducted at the Merek catchment, Iran which is geologically characterized by limestone, sandstone, shale and marls so as to determine the factors responsible for the occurrence...

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Main Authors: Heshmati, Mosayeb, Abdu, Arifin, Jusop, Shamsuddin, Nik Ab. Majid, Nik Muhamad, Ghaituri, M.
Formato: Artigo
Idioma:English
Publicado em: Elsevier 2011
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spelling oai:psasir.upm.edu.my:23937 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23937/ Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran. Heshmati, Mosayeb Abdu, Arifin Jusop, Shamsuddin Nik Ab. Majid, Nik Muhamad Ghaituri, M. Part of the mountainous semi-arid areas of Iran is geologically and topographically susceptible to landslides. A study was conducted at the Merek catchment, Iran which is geologically characterized by limestone, sandstone, shale and marls so as to determine the factors responsible for the occurrence of landslides. In this study, geomorphological units within the catchment were mapped by overlapping geological, topographical, land use and erosion data, using satellite image and GIS. Rocks and soils were sampled within each unit to determine their physico-chemical and mineralogical properties. It was found that landslides have affected about 15% of the Merek catchment and that their occurrence were promoted by unstable soils, being eroded at the rate of 18.57 t ha-1 yr-1. These landslides were initiated by crack formation in areas having smectite, a mineral which can swell and contract, depending on the availability of water. Smectite is the dominant mineral in about 80% of the area affected by landslides. Low aggregate stability in the topsoil further promotes the occurrence of landslides. Field verification showed that landslides occur mainly in the forest where the canopy cover is less than 15% with slope of 10-40%. Deforestation, overgrazing and improper tillage practices were found to accelerate landslides in this catchment. Elsevier 2011-11 Article PeerReviewed Heshmati, Mosayeb and Abdu, Arifin and Jusop, Shamsuddin and Nik Ab. Majid, Nik Muhamad and Ghaituri, M. (2011) Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran. Journal of Arid Environments, 75 (11). pp. 1072-1082. ISSN 0140-1963 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.06.011 English
institution UPM IR
collection UPM IR
language English
description Part of the mountainous semi-arid areas of Iran is geologically and topographically susceptible to landslides. A study was conducted at the Merek catchment, Iran which is geologically characterized by limestone, sandstone, shale and marls so as to determine the factors responsible for the occurrence of landslides. In this study, geomorphological units within the catchment were mapped by overlapping geological, topographical, land use and erosion data, using satellite image and GIS. Rocks and soils were sampled within each unit to determine their physico-chemical and mineralogical properties. It was found that landslides have affected about 15% of the Merek catchment and that their occurrence were promoted by unstable soils, being eroded at the rate of 18.57 t ha-1 yr-1. These landslides were initiated by crack formation in areas having smectite, a mineral which can swell and contract, depending on the availability of water. Smectite is the dominant mineral in about 80% of the area affected by landslides. Low aggregate stability in the topsoil further promotes the occurrence of landslides. Field verification showed that landslides occur mainly in the forest where the canopy cover is less than 15% with slope of 10-40%. Deforestation, overgrazing and improper tillage practices were found to accelerate landslides in this catchment.
format Article
author Heshmati, Mosayeb
Abdu, Arifin
Jusop, Shamsuddin
Nik Ab. Majid, Nik Muhamad
Ghaituri, M.
spellingShingle Heshmati, Mosayeb
Abdu, Arifin
Jusop, Shamsuddin
Nik Ab. Majid, Nik Muhamad
Ghaituri, M.
Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran.
author_facet Heshmati, Mosayeb
Abdu, Arifin
Jusop, Shamsuddin
Nik Ab. Majid, Nik Muhamad
Ghaituri, M.
author_sort Heshmati, Mosayeb
title Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran.
title_short Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran.
title_full Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran.
title_fullStr Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran.
title_full_unstemmed Factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the Merek catchment, Iran.
title_sort factors affecting landslides occurrence in agro-ecological zones in the merek catchment, iran.
publisher Elsevier
publishDate 2011
_version_ 1819294711520690176
score 13.4562235