Skip to main content
Log in

Frequency ratio analysis of mass movements in the Xiangxi catchment, Three Gorges Reservoir area, China

Journal of Earth Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In 2003, the Three Gorges Project (TGP, China), currently the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant by total capacity, went into operation. Due to large-scale impoundment of the Yangtze River and its tributaries and also due to resettlement, extensive environmental impacts like land use change and increase of geohazards are associated with the TGP. Within the Yangtze Project, we investigate these effects for the Xiangxi (香溪) catchment which is part of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The aim of this study is to evaluate the susceptibility for mass movement within the Xiangxi River backwater area using geographic information system (GIS). We used existing mass movements and the conditioning factors (geology, elevation, slope, curvature, land use, and land use change) for analyzing mass movement susceptibility. Mass movements and geology were mapped in the field to establish a mass movement inventory and a geological map. Land use and digital elevation model (DEM) were obtained from remote-sensing data. We determined the relation between mass movements and the conditioning factors by using the frequency ratio method and found strong relation between mass movements and both natural and human-influenced conditioning factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References Cited

  • Akgun, A., Dag, S., Bulut, F., 2008. Landslide Susceptibility Mapping for a Landslide-Prone Area (Findikli, NE of Turkey) by Likelihood-Frequency Ratio and Weighted Linear Combination Models. Environmental Geology, 54(6): 1127–1143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, R. M., 1977. Environmental Effects of Dams and Impoundments. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 8: 255–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brardinoni, F., Slaymaker, O., Hassan, M. A., 2003. Landslide Inventory in a Rugged Forested Watershed: A Comparison between Air-Photo and Field Survey Data. Geomorphology, 54(3–4): 179–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruden, D. M., Varnes, D. J., 1996. Landslide Types and Processes. In: Turner, A. K., Schuster, R. L., eds., Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation. Spec. Rep. 247, Transport Research Board. National Academy Press, Washington. 36–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Donati, L., Turrini, M. C., 2002. An Objective Method to Rank the Importance of the Factors Predisposing to Landslides with the GIS Methodology: Application to an Area of the Apennines (Valnerina; Perugia, Italy). Engineering Geology, 63(3–4): 277–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, A. J. D., Coelho, C. O. A., Ritsema, C. J., et al., 2008. Soil and Water Degradation Processes in Burned Areas: Lessons Learned from a Nested Approach. Catena, 74(3): 273–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fourniadis, I. G., Liu, J. G., 2007. Landslides in the Wushan-Zigui Region of the Three Gorges, China. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 40: 115–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fourniadis, I. G., Liu, J. G., Mason, P. J., 2006. Landslide Hazard Assessment in the Three Gorges Area, China, Using ASTER Imagery: Wushan-Badong. Geomorphology, 84(1–2): 126–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Glade, T., 2003. Landslide Occurrence as a Response to Land Use Change: A Review of Evidence from New Zealand. Catena, 51(3–4): 297–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann, H., 2005. Location of Xiangxi Catchment. In: Scholten, T., Rohn, J., King, L., et al., eds., Project Application in the Subject Area Land Use Change, Erosion, and Mass Movements in the Collaborative Research Project Sustainable Use of the New Eco-systems at Yangtze River, China. 36 (in German)

  • He, K. Q., Li, X. R., Yan, X. Q., et al., 2008. The Landslides in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China and the Effects of Water Storage and Rain on Their Stability. Environmental Geology, 55(1): 55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, B. L., Chen, X. T., 2007. Deformation Failure Mechanism of Baijiabao Landslide in Xiangxi River Valley. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 29(6): 938–942 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis, A., Reuter, H. I., Nelson, A., et al., 2008. Hole-Filled Seamless SRTM Data V4, International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org

  • Jiang, J. W., Ehret, D., Xiang, W., et al., 2010. Numerical Simulation of Qiaotou Landslide Deformation Caused by Drawdown of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Environmental Earth Sciences, doi: 10.1007/s12665-010-0536-0

  • Kallen, D., Xiang, W., Ehret, D., et al., 2006. Landslides at Qingjiang River in the Downstream Area of Shuibuya Dam Site, China. Journal of China University of Geosciences, 17(2): 158–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karsli, F., Atasoy, M., Yalcin, A., et al., 2009. Effects of Land-Use Changes on Landslides in a Landslide-Prone Area (Ardesen, Rize, NE Turkey). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 156(1–4): 241–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krejcí, O., Baron, I., Bíl, M., et al., 2002. Slope Movements in the Flysch Carpathians of Eastern Czech Republic Triggered by Extreme Rainfalls in 1997: A Case Study. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 27(36): 1567–1576

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Dan, N., 2005. Probabilistic Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in the Lai Chau Province of Vietnam: Focus on the Relationship between Tectonic Fractures and Landslides. Environmental Geology, 48(6): 778–787

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Min, K., 2001. Statistical Analysis of Landslide Susceptibility at Yongin, Korea. Environmental Geology, 40(9): 1095–1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Pradhan, B., 2006. Probabilistic Landslide Hazards and Risk Mapping on Penang Island, Malaysia. J. Earth Syst. Sci., 115(6): 661–672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Pradhan, B., 2007. Landslide Hazard Mapping at Selangor, Malaysia Using Frequency Ratio and Logistic Regression Models. Landslides, 4(1): 33–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Sambath, T., 2006. Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in the Damrei Romel Area, Cambodia Using Frequency Ratio and Logistic Regression Models. Environmental Geology, 50(6): 847–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Talib, J. A., 2005. Probabilistic Landslide Susceptibility and Factor Effect Analysis. Environmental Geology, 47(7): 982–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J. G., Mason, P. J., Clerici, N., et al., 2004. Landslide Hazard Assessment in the Three Gorges Area of the Yangtze River Using ASTER Imagery: Zigui-Badong. Geomorphology, 61(1–2): 171–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mantovani, F., Soeters, R., van Westen, C. J., 1996. Remote Sensing Techniques for Landslide Studies and Hazard Zonation in Europe. Geomorphology, 15(3–4): 213–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mather, A. E., Griffiths, J. S., Stokes, M., 2003. Anatomy of a ‘Fossil’ Landslide from the Pleistocene of SE Spain. Geomorphology, 50(1–3): 135–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metternicht, G., Hurni, L., Gogu, R., 2005. Remote Sensing of Landslides: An Analysis of the Potential Contribution to Geo-spatial Systems for Hazard Assessment in Moun tainous Environments. Remote Sensing of Environment, 98(2–3): 284–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regmi, N. R., Giardino, J. R., Vitek, J. D., 2010. Assessing Susceptibility to Landslides: Using Models to Understand Observed Changes in Slopes. Geomorphology, 122(1–2):25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruff, M., Czurda, K., 2008. Landslide Susceptibility Analysis with a Heuristic Approach in the Eastern Alps (Vorarlberg, Austria). Geomorphology, 94(3–4): 314–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruff, M., Rohn, J., 2008. Susceptibility Analysis for Slides and Rockfall: An Example from the Northern Calcareous Alps (Vorarlberg, Austria). Environmental Geology, 55(2): 441–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schönbrodt, S., Ehret, D., Seeber, C., et al.. Geo-risks in the Highly Dynamic Three Gorges Reservoir Ecosystem: Interactions of Soil Erosion, Mass Movements, and Land Use. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (Submitted)

  • Seeber, C., Hartmann, H., Xiang, W., et al., 2010. Land Use Change and Causes in the Xiangxi Catchment, Three Gorges Area Derived from Multispectral Data. Journal of Earth Science, 21(6): 846–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talebi, A., Troch, P. A., Uijlenhoet, R., 2008. A Steady-State Analytical Slope Stability Model for Complex Hillslopes. Hydrological Processes, 22(4): 546–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Beek, L. P. H., van Asch, T. W. J., 2004. Regional Assessment of the Effects of Land-Use Change on Landslide Hazard by Means of Physically Based Modelling. Natural Hazards, 31(1): 289–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Eeckhaut, M., Poesen, J., Verstraeten, G., et al., 2005. The Effectiveness of Hillshade Maps and Expert Knowledge in Mapping Old Deep-Seated Landslides. Geomorphology, 67(3–4): 351–363

    Google Scholar 

  • van Westen, C. J., 2000. The Modelling of Landslide Hazards Using GIS. Surveys in Geophysics, 21(2–3): 241–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Westen, C. J., Rengers, N., Soeters, R., 2003. Use of Geomorphological Information in Indirect Landslide Susceptibility Assessment. Natural Hazards, 30(3): 399–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vijith, H., Madhu, G., 2007. Application of GIS and Frequency Ratio Model in Mapping the Potential Surface Failure Sites in the Poonjar Sub-watershed of Meenachil River in Western Ghats of Kerala. Photonirvachak, 35(3): 275–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Vijith, H., Madhu, G., 2008. Estimating Potential Landslide Sites of an Upland Sub-watershed in Western Ghat’s of Kerala (India) through Frequency Ratio and GIS. Environmental Geology, 55(7): 1397–1405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. W., Wang, G. H., Sassa, K., et al., 2005. Deformation Monitoring and Exploration on Shuping Landslide Induced by Impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Disaster Prevention Research Institute Annuals, 48(B): 405–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. W., Zhang, Y. M., Huo, Z. T., et al., 2004. The July 14, 2003 Qianjiangping Landslide, Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Landslides, 1(2): 157–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. W., Zhang, Y. M., Huo, Z. T., et al., 2008a. Movement of the Shuping Landslide in the First Four Years after the Initial Impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam Reservoir, China. Landslides, 5(3): 321–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, F. W., Zhang, Y. M., Huo, Z. T., et al., 2008b. Mechanism for the Rapid Motion of the Qianjiangping Landslide during Reactivation by the First Impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam Reservoir, China. Landslides, 5(4): 379–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz, I., 2009. Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Using Frequency Ratio, Logistic Regression, Artificial Neural Networks and Their Comparison: A Case Study from Kat Landslides (Tokat-Turkey). Computers & Geosciences, 35(6): 1125–1138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z. J., Bai, Z. M., Mooney, W. D., et al., 2009. Crustal Structure across the Three Gorges Area of the Yangtze Platform, Central China, from Seismic Refraction/Wide-Angle Reflection Data. Tectonophysics, 475(3–4): 423–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominik Ehret.

Additional information

This study was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ehret, D., Rohn, J., Dumperth, C. et al. Frequency ratio analysis of mass movements in the Xiangxi catchment, Three Gorges Reservoir area, China. J. Earth Sci. 21, 824–834 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-010-0134-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-010-0134-9

Key Words

Navigation