Water Stewardship Information Sources

Resource Name Examining climate controls on recent landslides in northern British Columbia, Canada
Unique File Number 291
Information Type applied research
Surface Water
Aquatic Ecosystem
Groundwater
Groundwater & Surface Water
Management for Natural & Industrial Hazards A
Strengths
Limitations
Challenges
Outstanding Research Questions
Outstanding Research Questions
Information Subtype mass movement
Organization FLNRO
Resource Name Eggington, VN et al. 2006. Examining climate controls on recent landslides in northern British Columbia. Streamline Watershed Management Bulletin 11(4).
Resource Purpose In northern British Columbia, Canada, temperature and precipitation has been increasing since the beginning of the instrumental record in the late 1800's. These trends may be responsible for the apparent increase in the frequency of landslides in the area. We examined recent landslides in northern British Columbia for both climate causes and weather triggers. To examine for causes of slope failure, we calculated trends in total precipitation, mean temperature, and extreme maximum and minimum temperature from Meteorological Survey of Canada weather stations. To examine for slope failure triggers, we analyzed weather station data for significant temperature or precipitation amounts as well as digital weather imagery from satellites and radar where available. We found a close relation exists between climate causes and landslide type. Large landslides in bedrock occurred during years or long periods of above-average temperature. Landslides in unconsolidated sediments occurred during years or long periods of above-average precipitation. Many of the analyzed failures occurred after warm or variable winters. Where satellite imagery was available, we found convective thunderstorms or large cyclonic storms were common during the time of failure of many landslides. Long-term increases in temperature and precipitation may be preconditioning marginally safe slopes for failure and intense or large- scale storms may be the triggers of such failures.
Type of Information article
How does this help decision making?
Program Status complete
NE Coverage northern BC specific
Drinking Water
Ecosystem
Fish
Groundwater
Public Safety y
SW Quality
SW Quantity
Link http://forrex.org/sites/default/files/publications/articles/streamline_vol11_no1_art4.pdf
Text Query
Google Earth
iMap Path Link
Spatial Metadata
Map
Contact Email