Landslides Caused by the 8/15/2007 Pisco, Peru (Mw = 7.9) Earthquake: A Case Study

Abstract

The first part of this thesis describes the different landsliding modes observed in the affected area, and the parameters that affect landsliding susceptibility: ground motion, geology, geomorphology, slope, slope, slope aspect, ecological region, precipitation, proximity to rivers, and presence of roads or roadcuts. Three main landsliding regions are identified: the Paracas Peninsula, the Coastal Plains, and the Andes Mountains. For each region, the typical landsliding mode is described, as well as the specific parameters which contribute to landsliding susceptibility. The second part of this paper attempts to determine whether several proposed landslide frequency-volume or earthquake magnitude-volume relationships are valid for the Pisco landsliding event, and whether any of them can be used to upscale the inventory; i.e. account for missing small-volume landslides.