Thursday, 23rd May 2013
The Earth Unglued: Forecasting Landslides |
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A team led by Professor Dr Roslan Zainal Abidin, Director of the university’s International Research Centre on Disaster Prevention (IRCDIP) has created a rainfall soil chart (RS Chart) for forecasting landslides, based on rainfall distribution and intensity as well as soil erodibility. When these two factors are put together, geomorphologists are able to come up with a more accurate calculation of the threat of erosion induced landslide in any one area.In particular, the RS Chart shows that one can predetermine an annual erosivity calendar which depicts triggering landslide conditions. This is achieved through measurement of such parameters as rainfall density, duration, intensity, energy and erosivity based on past landslide occurrences. The research shows that it is possible to pinpoint with increased accuracy whether the level of landslide risk in any one area is low, moderate, high or critical. Such findings are invaluable as landslides and mud and debris flows triggered by severe rainstorms occur frequently with widespread destructiveness throughout Malaysia. They constitute a major geological hazard because of the widespread damage that they cause to human lives and infrastructure. The Highland Tower collapse in 1993 which was triggered by 10 days of continuous rain, the Bukit Lanjan Rockslide in 2007, and the Pos Dipang mudslide in 1996 which was set off by inclement rain and floods are some examples of these destructive and deadly occurrences.
