‘The International Geotechnical Societice' UNESCO Working Party for ‘World Landslide Inventory © 1993 INGUAL, LANDSLIDE. GLOSSARY ‘The Canadian Geotechnical Society Published by BiTech Publishers Li. 173 - 11860 Hammersmith Way Richmond, B.C., Canada, VIASGL ISBN 0.920 505-10-4 1993‘Table of Contents Introduction... Acknowledgements. References. 1, Landslide Features, 2. Landslide Dimensions. 3. States of Activity of Landslide... ee sooner Bl 4 Distributions of Activity in Landes. 41 5. Siyes of Landslide Activity sa 6. Types of Landslides. 6 Index Have the Glossary punched on its left hand margin for insertion in a ring binder of your choice. You will then be sble 19 add new sections (end new Indexes and Tables of Contents) es they becomeIntroduction In his call for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-2000), the ‘Secretary-General of the United Nations remarked, “A fundamental precondition for improvements in riskeassessment and disaster management capabilities is the availability of reliable historical data on disasters on a country-by-country basis.” Landslides, ether alone or in association with the earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires 1nd major rainstorms that may rigger landslides, ae a major cause of loss of life, injury and property ‘damage in natural disasters around the world, In some countries, they are the major cause of damage, So the need to establish a World Landslide Inventory is apparent. The world distribution of landslides has not yet been mapped. Landslide studies are isolated, limiting their interpretation to local factors. ‘Analyzing the occurrence of groups of landslides will reveal the broad processes, active over a number of sites, that contribute to slope movements. There is an obvious analogy to be drawn with the study ‘of earthquakes, now synthesized by the theory of plate tectonics. ‘The International Geotechnical Societies’ UNESCO Working Party on World Landslide Inventory (abbreviated WP/WLD was initiated atthe Sth International Symposium on Landslides (Lausanne, 1988) to assist the establishment of a detailed list ofthe World's landslides. To do this, the Working Party has prepared a Suggested Method forthe creation of the basic unit ofthe Inventory, the Landslide Report (WP/WLI, 1990) and suggested how Landslide Reports can be compiled in & Landslide Summary (WP/WLI, 1991). Working Groups have been set up by the Working Party 10 suggest methods of classifying the rates of movement of landslides, their causes, their geology, their activity and the distribution of movement within landslides (WP/WLI, 1993). ‘The Working Party has informally defined a landslide (Cruden, 1991) as, "A movement of a ‘mass of rock, earth or debris down a slope”. Ground subsidence and snow avalanches are beyond its scope but debris flows, for instance, interest the Paty‘To ensure adequate communication between Groups working in different languages, the ‘Working Party has drawn on its membership to translate the basic terms used in its Report and ‘Suggested Methods into Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Russian from agreed English texts. In the English eon ofthe Mulingual Glossary the English tems in each sestion ofthe. Giossary have been arrnged facing an explanatory diagram. Terms in other languages follow, ‘numbered withthe same page number as the comtesponding English page. The index of tems in English lists th terms by section number followed by the numberof the term inthe section and in the explanatory diagram, ‘The Suggested Methods of the Working Party on World Landslide Inventory are reviewed by the whole Working Party and published when a consensus has been reached. Published Methods are listed in the References, the membership ofthe Working Party numbers 49 and has recently been listed {in Brown, Cruden, and Dennison (1992). Further editions of the Glossary will be published as Working Groups of the Werking Party ‘complete Suggested Methods or expand existing Suggested Methods and as the Glossary is translated {nto other languages. Detailed lists of the availability of the Glossary will be lodged with the Seeretarits of the International Geotechnical Societies and the Editors ofthe Glossary (listed in the Acknowledgements). Colour slides of the diagrams are available as a set through the ISSMFE ‘Educational Slide Set Program, Write to the Secretary-General, ISSMFE. The diagrams have been ‘copyrighted. They have been specifically priced hy computer graphics fo thie edition, They may not be reproduced without permission ofthe Elitor.Acknowledgements ‘The project has been coordinated by E. Krauter who also edited the German text. Chinese text was provided by Z-Y. Zhang, English by DM. Cruden, French by G. Lefebvre, Spanish by L Beltran and Russian by G. Ter-Stepanian. The authors welcome your comments, Their addresses. ‘Mr, Lisandro Beltran ‘Universidad Nacional de Colombia Aparato Ado 30120 COLOMBIA Dr. David M. Cruden ‘Deparmeat of Civil Engineering University of Alberta 220 Givl Elerrical Engineering Bldg Edronon, Albena CANADA. 766267 Prof, Dr. Edmund Krauter ‘Geologisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz ‘Emmermanssirasse 36 55116 Mainz GERMANY Dr.G. Lefebvre, Département de Genie Civil Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, Quebec CANADA. JIK2R1 Prof. Dr. GI. TerStepaian S avenue Mesrp Mashtots Apt 1 Yeroan 373002 7 ARMENIA Zhang Zhouyuan Roc Labot Geological Hazaré Prevention Chengdu College of Geology Reng 610089 Sichuan ia JS. de Lugt constructed the figures and compiled the English edition.Some travel of Working Panty members to meetings has been supported by the Farth Sciences Division of UNESCO. The publication of this document has been supported by the Canadian Geotechnical Society. The Society's publication of the Sth edition of the Lexicon in 8 Languages (International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 1981) was an inspiration for the Landslide Glossary. ‘The Working Party has been encouraged by the Executives and Secretarats ofthe International Geotechnical Societies. The addresses ofthe Secretarats are: Intemational Association for Engineering Geology Dr. L. Primel, Secretary-General Laboratoire Cental des Ponts et Chaussées 58, Boulevard Lefebvre 75732 Pais Cedex 15 FRANCE, Intemational Society for Rock Mechanies Dr. Jose Delgado Rodrigues, Gener Labor acta d gears Cl 101 Av. do Brasil P.- 1799 Lisboa Codex PORTUGAL Intemational Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Dr. RHG. Parry, Secretary-General Engineering Department University of Cambridge ‘Trumpington Steet Cambridge, UNITEDKINGDOM CB21P2References Brown, W.M., Cruden, D.M., and Dennison, JS., 1992, The Directory of the World Landslide ‘Inventory. United States Geological Survey, Open-File Report 92-427, 216 p. Cruden, D.M,, 1991. A simple definition of a landslide. Bulletin International Association for Engineering Geology, 43: 27-29. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 1981. Technical Terms, ‘Symbols and Definitions in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, gad Swedish used in Soi! Mechanics and Foundason Engineering, Canadian Geotthnc ity. WP/WLI (International Geotechnical Societies' UNESCO Working Party on World Landslide Tnventory), 1990. A suggested method for reporting a landslide. Bulletin International Association for Engineering Geology, 4l: 512. WP/WLI (International Geotechnical Societies UNESCO Working Party on World Landslide Tnventory), 1991. A suggested method for a landslide summary. Bulletin International Association for Engineering Geology, 43: 101-110. WP/WLI (Intemational Geotechnical Societies’ UNESCO Working Party on World Landslide Inventory), 1993. A suggested method for describing the activity of a landslide. Bulletin International Association of Engineering Geology, 47: 53-57.Landslide Features1, Landslide Features 1)Crown: The practically undisplaced material still in place and adjacent to the highest pats ofthe ‘ain searp 2) "Main scarp A Seep surface on te unsure round athe upper ee of he nie, eed ‘by movernent ofthe displaced material (13) away from the undisturbed ground. Itis the visible part ofthe surface of rupture (10). {3yTop: The highest point of contact between the displaced material (13) andthe main scarp (2) ‘)Hlead: The upper pers ofthe landside along the contact between the displaced material andthe main scarp (2). S)Minoe sep: sep surface 7 the placed material of the landslide produced by diferent ‘movements within the displaced material. ‘6)Main body: The part of the displaced material ofthe landslide that overlies the surface of rope (0) between the main scarp (2) and the toe of the surface of rupture (11). “Foot: The portion ofthe landslide that has moved beyond the toe ofthe surface of ruptre (1) and ‘overties the original ground surface (20) 8)Tipr The point on the toe ©) farthest from the tp (3) of the landslide. ‘9)Toe: The lower, usally curved margin ofthe displaced material ofa landslide it isthe most distant from the main scarp 2). 10)Surface of rupture: The surface which forms (or which has formed) the lower boundary of the displaced material (13) below the orignal ground surface (20) 11yToe of surface of rupture: The intersection (usually buried) between the lower part of the surface of rupture (10) ofa landslide andthe original ground surface (20), \aysurac of separation: The prt ofthe erga ground surface (20) ovrtin by the fot) of the landslide. 13)Displaced material: Material displaced from its original position on the slope by movement in the landslide. It forms both the depleted mass (17) and the accumulation (18) 14Zone of depletion: The area ofthe landslide within which the displaced material lies below the ‘origingl ground surface (20). 15yZone of accumulation: The arca of the landslide within which the displaced material lies above the original ground surface 20). 16)Depletion: The volume bounded by the main scarp (2), the depleted mass (17) and the original ground surface (20) 17)Pepleted mass: The volume of the displaced material which overties the rupture surface (10) but, undedls the original ground surface (2) 18)Accumulation: The volume of the displaced material (13) which lies above the original ground surface 20), 19)Flank: The undisplaced material adjacent to the sides ofthe rupture surface. Compass directions fare preferable in describing the flanks but if left and right are used, they refer to the flanks as, Viewed from the crown (1) 20)Original ground surface: The surface of the slope that existed before the landslide took place. Figure Legend. Cross hatching indicates undisturbed ground, suppling shows the extent of the: ‘displaced material (13) 12» 2) 3) 4 5) 6 1) 12) a) 4) a5) 36) ” 2) as) 20) caractéristiques des glissenents de terrain Couronne: zone pratiquenent intacte située au-dessus de 1'escarpement principa: (2). Bacarpenent principal: surface abrupte limitant le glissement & son ex- trémité supérieure. C'est 1a partie visible de la surface de rupture (0). jonnet: Limite supérieure du glissenent, point le plus élevé ou le maté~ riau déplacé (13) est en contact avec I'escarpenent principal (2). éte: Parties supérieures du glissenent ol la masse déplacée est en’ con- tact avec l'escarpenent principal (2). Bscarpenent secondaire: Escarpenent dans 1a masse déplacée causé par les mouvenents différentiels & 1'intérieur du matériau déplace. Corps: Partie du materiau déplace (13) au-dessus de la surface de ruptu- re (10) située entre 1'escarpement principal (2) et le pied de la sur- face de rupture (11). Pied: Partie de 1a masse déplacée (13) recouvrant 1a surface topographi- que originale (20) en aval du pied de 1a surface de rupture (11). Extrénité aval: Point le plus aval du matériau déplacé (13)- Front: Partie la plus aval, par rapport & l'escarpenent principal (2), généralenent de forme convexe. Surface de rupture: Prolongation en profondeur de 1'escarpement. princi- pal (2) au-dessous de la masse déplacée (13) et de la surface topogra- phique originale (20). Pied de 1a surface de rupture: Point d'intersection aval (généralement enterré) de la surface de rupture (10) et 1a surface topographique ori- ginale (20). Surface de séparation: Portion de 1a surface topographique originale re- couverte par le pied du glissement (7). Matériau déplacé: Matériau quia subi un déplacenent suite au glisse- ment. Tl forme la masse affaissée (17) et 1'accumulation (18). Zone a'affaissement: Zone d'un glissenent de terrain ot la masse dépla- cée se retrouve au-dessous de la surface topographique originale (20). Zone d'accunulation: Zone d'un glissement de terrain ol la masse dépla- cée se retrouve au-dessus de la surface topographique originale (20). Dépression: Volune délimité par l'escarpement principal (2), la masse affaissée (17) et 1a surface topographique originale (20). Masse affaissée: Partie de 1a masse deplacée délimitée par la surface de rupture (10) et située sous 1a surface topographique originale (20) - Accumulation: Partie da Ia masse ddplacée aitues an-dessus de la surface topographique originale (20). Flanc: Linite latérale du glissement joignant 1'escarpenent principal. Les points cardinaux sont préférablenent utilises dans la description des flancs. Si les termes droit et gauche sont utilises, ceux-ci sont localisés tels que vu de 1a couronne (1). Surface topographique originale: Surface du terrain avant "occurrence du glissenent. Légende de 1a figure. La surface hachurée indique les zones demeurées intac- tes. La surface en pointillé montre 1'étendue des materiaux déplaces (13) - a22, Landslide Dimensions2» 2» 2 4) 5) ® D 2. Landslide Dimensions ‘The width of the displaced mass, Wa, is the maximum breadth of the displaced mass perpendicular to the length, Ly ‘The width of the rupture surface, W,, is the maximam width between the flanks of the landslide, perpendicular tothe length, L,- ‘The total length, Lis the minimum distance from the tip ofthe landslide ois crown, ‘The length of the displaced mass, I, is the minimum distance from the tip to the top. ‘The length of the rupture surface, L,, is the minimum distance from the toe of the surface of rupture to the crown. ‘The depth of the displaced mass, Dy, is the maximum depth of the displaced mass, ‘measured perpendicular tothe plane containing Wa and Ly ‘The depth of the rupture surface, D,. is the maximum depth of the rupture surface below the criginal ground surface measured perpendicular tothe plane containing W, and L,, Figure Legend, Cross hatching indicates undisturbed ground. 2u 2) 34 4) n Dimensions des glissenents de terrain Largeur de 1a masse déplacée, ¥,: largeur maximale de 1a masse déplacée dans une direction perpendiculaire 4 la longueur, Iy Largeur de 1a surface de rupture, W,: distance maxinale entre les flancs dans une direction perpendiculaire a 1a longueur de la surface de rupture L,. Tongueur totale, L: distance minimale entre 1a courcnne et Tvextrémité aval du glissement. Longueur de 1a masse déplacée, ty: distance minimale entre lextrémité inférieure et le sonnet de la masse déplacée. Longuour de 1a surface de rupture, Ly: distance minimale entre le pied de 1a surface de rupture et 1a couronne. Profondeur de 1a masse déplacée, D,: profondeur maximale de 12 masse déplacée mesurée perpendiculairement au plan formé par Wy et Tae Profondeur de 1a surface de rupture, D,: distance maximale en- tre 1a surface de rupture et 1a surface topographique origina- le, nesurée perpendiculairenent au plan formé par W, et L, Légende de 1a figure. La partie hachurée indique les zones deneu- ‘rées intactes.3. States of Activity of Landslides3. States of Activity of Landslides 1) Anactive landslide is currently moving. 2) A suspended landslide has moved within the last 12 months but is not active (1) at present. 2) A reactivated landslide is an active (1) landslide which ha been inactive (4. 4) An inactive landslide has not moved within the last 12 months. Inactive landslides can be subdivided into states 5-8. 5) A dormant landslide is an inactive (4) landslide which can be reactivated (3) by its original ‘causes or by other causes, © Anabandoned landslide is an inactive (4) landslide which is no longer affected by it orginal 7) A stabilized landslide is an inactive (4 landslide which has been protected from its original causes by artificial remedial measures. 8) A relict landstige is an inactive (@) landslide which developed under climatic or {geomorphological condions considerably diferent frm hse at present Figure legend. Sections through topples indifferent states of activity. 1) Actives erosion atte toe of the lope causes a block to topple. 2) Suspended, local racking in. the crown of the opp. 3) Reactivated, anther block topple, disturbing the previously dplced ‘material, 5) Dormant, the displaced mass begins to regain its tee cover, scarps are modified by ‘weathering. 6) Abandoned, fluvial deposition has protected the toe ofthe slope. the scarp begins to Faun is ee covet 7) Staplize, a wall rote the foe of the lope. 8) Kall, wnior tee 3.2fitate d’activité des gliesenents de terrain * Glissement de terrain actif: actuellement en mouvement . 2) Glissement en suspens: en mouvement depuis les 12 derniers mois mais sans étre actif (1) pour le moment. 3) Gligsement de terrain réactivé: glissement actif (1) ayant déja été inactif (4). 4) Glissement de terrain inactif: n’a pas été en mouvement depuis ies 12 deznicrs moic. Les glissements de terrain inactifs se caractérisent par les différents états (5 4 8). 5) Glissement de terrain latent: glissement inactif (4) pouvant Stre réactivé (3) pour les mémes causes qui sont 4 son ori- gine. 6) Glissement de terrain naturellement stabilieé: glissement in~ actif (4) n’étan: plus soumis aux causes qui sont & son origi- 7) Glissement de terrain artificiellement stabilisé: glissement inactif (4) isolé des causes qui sont son origine par des moyens artificiels. 3) Glissement de terrain ancien: glissement inactif (4) développé Sous des conditions climatiques et géomorphologiques sensible~ ment différentes de celles existant aujourd’hui. * Le terme glissexent est ici utilisé au sens général et inclut tous les types de mouvement de terrain. égende ces figures: coupes Cransversales de talus montrant diféé- rents étets d’activités i) actif, basculement d’un bloc de terrain causé par 1’érosion au pied du talus, 2) Bn euspens, fissure en créte du talus. 3) Ré- ‘ctivé, basculement d’un autre bloc de terrain, remaniant les ma~ tériaux déposés par le premier glissement. 5) natent, les arbres Conmencent & recouvrir 1'éboulis, les escarpements sont altérés par ies intenpéries. 6) Naturellenent stabilisé, le pied de la pente a été protegé des depots fluviaux, les arbres commencent & recou~ Qrir lrescarpement. 7). Artificiellement stabilisé, le pied de la pente est protegé par un mur. 8) Ancien, une végétation arbores- cente s'est développée 3-24, Distributions of Activity in Landslidesye» 2) 3) 4), > 4, Distributions of Activity in Landslides {In an advancing landslide the rupture surface is extending inthe direction of movement. Inu retrogresive landslide dhe rupture surface is extending in the direction opposite to the: movement of the displaced material. In an enlarging landslide the rupture surface of the landslide is extending in two or more: direstions. In a diminishing landslide the volume of the displacing material is decreasing. In a confined landslide there is a scarp but no rupture surface visitle atthe foot of the displaced mass. In.amoving landslide the displaced material continues to move without any visible change in the mupture Surface and the volume of the displaced material. idening landslide the rupture surface is extending into one cr both flanks of the landslide. Figure Legend. Landslides showing different distributions of activity, 1) Advancing, 2) Retrogressing, 3) Enlarging, 4) Diminishing, 5) Confined, 6) ‘Moving, 7) Widening (plan view). Section 2 of the diagrams shows the slope after movement on ‘the rupture surface indicated by the shear arrow in the section. Displaced material is stippled. a2Distribution des mouvenents dans les glissenents de terrain 2) Glissement de terrain en extension avale: 1a surface de rupture du glissement progresse dans la direction du mou- ‘venent. 2) Glissement de terrain rétrogressif: 1a surface de rupture du glissenent progresse suivant 1a direction opposée au mouvement Ges matériaux deplaces. 3) Glissement de terrain on extension multi-directionnelle: 1a Surface de rupture progresse suivant deux ou plusieurs direc tions. 4) Glissenent de terrain en régression: le volume des matériaux aéplacés diminue. 5) Glissement de terrain contenu: i1 y a formation d’un escarpe- nent en créte sans qu’aucune surface de rupture soit visisle au pied de la masse déplacée. 6) Glissenent de terrain en mouvenent: la masse déplacée contiaue @’avancer sans aucun changement visible de la surface de rip- ture ou du volune dee matériaux déplacés. 7) Glissement de terrain en extension latérale: 1a surface de rup~ ture progresse sur un seul ou sur les deux flancs du glis- senent. Légende des figures: Différentes distributions des mouvenents des Glissoments de terrain. i) ‘Avancenent, 2) Rétrogressif, 3) Multi-directionnel, 4) Régressit, 5) Confiné, 6) Constant, 7) Elargissement (vue en plan). La section 2 des figures montré les talus apres déplacement Sur la surface de rupture indiquée par une fléche. Le volune de matériau déplace est trané. a23. Styles of Landslide Activity5a» 2 2 4) 5 Styles of Landslide Activity ‘A complex landslide exhibits at least two types of movement (falling, toppling, sliding, ‘spreading, flowing) in sequence. ‘A composite landslide exhibits at least two types of movement simultaneously in different ‘pars of the displacing mass. ‘A successive landslide is the same type as a nearby, earlier landslide but does not share 4 6. Types of Landslides _A fall starts withthe detachment of soil or rock from a steep slope along a surface on which lite or no shear displacement takes place. The material then descends largely through the air by falling salttion or rolling, [A topple is the forward rotation, out of the slope, of a mass of soil or rock about a point or ‘axis below the cente of gravity of the displaced mass. [Aslideis the downslope movement of a soil or rock mass occurring dominantly on surfaces ‘of rupture or relatively thin zones of intense shear strain, dis an extension ofa cohesive soil or rock mass combined with a general subsidence of the fractured mass of cohesive material into softer underlying material. The rupture surface. {snot a surface of intense shear. Spreads may result from liquefaction or flow (and extrusion). of the softer material. {A flow isa sptially continuous movement in which surfaces of shear are shor-lived, closely Spaced and not ustally preserved. The distribution of velocities in the displaciag mass resembles that in viscous fluid Figure Legend, Broken lines indicate the original ground surface. Arrows show portions of the trajectories of vidual particles ofthe displaced mass. 62ay ay 2 4) 5) ‘Types de mouvenente de terrain Hboulement: La masse de sol ou de roc se détache d/une pente abrupte avec peu ou pas de déformations préalable le long de la surface de rupture puis dégringole librement. Bagculement : Mouvement de rotation vers 1'extérieur de 1a pen- te, par rapport & un point ou un axe inférieur au centre de gravite de la masse de 201 ou de rec déplacée. Glissement: Mouvement vers le bas de la pente d’une masse de S01 ou de roc se produisant principalement sur des surfaces de rupture ou dans des zones de cisaillement relativement minces. Stalement: Mouvement dune masse de sol cohésif ou de roc sui- te & l’extrusion et le déplacement d’ure couche sous-Jacente de matériaux plus faibles, accompagnés de 1’affaissement. de la masse fracturée. Les étalements peuvent étre causés par la li- quéfaction ou 1’écoulement du matériau mou. eoulement: Mouvement continu réparti dans la masse déplacée semblable 4 celui d'un fluide visqueux Légende des figures. La surface topographique originale est mon- trée par des traits discontinus. Les trajectoires des particules individuelles de 1a masse déplacée sont indiguées par des flaches. 6-2Index Abandoned 36 Accummition 1-18 Active 31 Advancing Complex 5-1 Composte 9:2 Confined 4:5 Crown 1 Depletedmass 1-17 Depletion 1-16 Depth ofthe displaced mass, D, 26 Depth of he rupture surface, D, 27 Diminishing 44 Displace material 1-13, Dormant 35 alaging 43, Fall 61 Flank 1-19 Flow 65 Foot 1-7 Head 1-¢ Incive 3.4 Length of the displaced mas, 2-4 Length ofthe ruptre surface L, 25 Main body 1-6 Main soap 1-2 Minor scarp 1-5 Moving 4.6 Multiple 5-5 (Original ground surface 1-20 Reactivated 3.3 Relict 3-8 Retrogressive 4-2 Single 5-4 Slide 63 Spread 6-4 Stabilized 3-7 Successive $3 Surface of rupture 1-10 ‘Surface of separation 1-12 Suspended 32 Tip 18 Toe 19 ‘Toe of surface of rupture 1-11 Top 13 Topple 6-2 ‘Total length, 2-3 Widening 4-7 Width ofthe displaced mass, W, 2-1 ‘Width ofthe mpture surface, W, 2-2 ‘Zone of accumulation 1-15 Zone of depletion 1-14