Journal article

Coseismic landsliding during the Mw 7.1 Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake: Implications for paleoseismic studies of landslides

T Stahl, EL Bilderback, MC Quigley, DC Nobes, CI Massey

Geomorphology | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2014

Abstract

The head scarp of the Harper Hills landslide consists of ground cracks with vertical displacement and extension that opened during the 2010 Darfield (Canterbury) Mw 7.1 earthquake. The geomorphology of the cracks, regional geology and ground penetrating radar indicate that the landslide formed by bedding-controlled translation and joint-controlled toppling, and suggest incipient deep-seated movement. Crack depth and displacement along the head scarp vary along the ridge; maximum values are located where the head scarp is closest to the local ridge line. Increased seismic shaking due to topographic and geometric amplification of seismic waves is suggested as an explanation for this relationsh..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Earthquake Commission


Funding Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Rebecca Pannen, Richard Taylor, Sharon Hornblow, Brendan Duffy, Matt Cockcroft, Joshua Blackstock, Stefano, and Pilar Villamor for assistance in the field. John Beavan, Kevin Furlong, and Matthew Herman supplied useful InSAR and aftershock data. The Dennis family kindly allowed us to access to their farm for monitoring and trenching. We are grateful to James McCalpin and an anonymous reviewer for improving the quality of this manuscript. This research was funded by New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC) Capability Grant E5713 and a University of Canterbury International Doctoral Scholarship.