LANDSLIDE SEISMOLOGY GEOLOGY: A SUB-DISCIPLINE OF ENVIRON-MENTAL EARTH SCIENCES

This paper raises the concept of Landslide Seismology Geology, which belongs to the field of Environmental Earth Sciences. This sub-discipline is concerned with the mechanism, distribution and evolution of landslides triggered by earthquakes; and also is a subject that addresses issues in earthquake geology using information from earthquake-triggered landslides. It can also be regarded as a cross-discipline among Disaster Geology, Earthquake Geology and Engineering Geology(or Geotechnical Geology). It is related to many disciplines or technologies, such as Solid Geophysics, Tectonics, Tectonic Geomorphology, Environmental Geology, Numerical Computation, Geographic Information System(GIS), Remote Sensing, and Statistical Analysis. This paper outlines the research framework and system of the Landslide Seismology Geology from scientific research and practical application. The purpose of its scientific research is to explore the laws of earthquake-triggered landslides, while the practical application is aimed to serve landslide hazard prevention and mitigation. According to these goals, the research contents are generally divided into two aspects:(1)Studying mechanisms, distribution patterns and evolution laws of earthquake-triggered landslides; (2)Establishing relationships of earthquake-triggered landslides with earthquakes, seismogenic faults and earthquake ruptures. Then employing these relationships to solve problems of earthquake geology, such as seismology(seismic parameters, ground shaking, and seismic intensity), seismogenic faults(geometry, kinematics, and rupture processes), and geology(geomorphologic evolution). Finally, this paper overviews some aspects of this sub-discipline, including database of earthquake-triggered landslides, case analysis of earthquake-triggered landslides based on events around the world, the relationship between earthquake-triggered landslides and earthquake geology objects, and evolution law of earthquake-triggered landslides. In short, taking into account the development of the remote sensing and GIS technologies, increasingly urgent needs of earthquake-triggered landslide disaster prevention and mitigation, and the tendency of multi-disciplinary integration, the geology of earthquake landslides will receive increasing attentions in the community of geosciences.