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Landslide characterization by seismic ambient noise analysis: application to

Carpathian Mountains

Poster · December 2019

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18971.69924

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5 authors, including:

Léna Cauchie Anne-Sophie Mreyen

University of Liège University of Liège
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Philippe Cerfontaine Mihai Micu

University of Liège Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest
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 #S23D-0664
Landslide characterization by seismic ambient noise analysis: application to Carpathian Mountains
Cauchie Léna (1), Mreyen Anne-Sophie (1), Micu Mihai (2), Cerfontaine Philippe (1), Havenith Hans-Balder (1)
(1) Department of Geology, University of Liege, Belgium (2) Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Romania

Introduction Varlaam Landslide a)

Assessing the geometry and volume of mass movements is essential for the appraisal of slope stability and for the understanding
of slope failure trigger mechanisms. For the latter, we developed seismic ambient noise measurement techniques in order to Varlaam is a massive slope
better characterize the sub-surface of ancient deep-seated landslides in seismic regions, as in Carpathian Mountains, landslide,reaching up to 2 km in length.
Romania. In particular, we conducted two thorough seismological and geophysical campaigns on the landslides of Eagle’s Lake It presents numerous shallow
and Varlaam, in the Buzau region, Romania. reactivation sectors across the body and
a)
This region hosts very large and generally old (i.e. > 1000 years) mass movements with morphologies which might be due to is subject to river undercut along the toe, Central Plateau
b)
seismically induced failure. which is causing riparian reactivation.
On both sites, we performed abundant horizontal-to-vertical noise spectral ratio (HVSR) measurements and installed several c)

seismic arrays. The HVSR technique, based on the analysis of three component seismic signals, is commonly used to identify
the resonance frequency of a given site. Through the installation of seismic arrays, we analyze the dispersive properties of the
UAS based landscape
surface waves. By jointly inverting the information through a non-linear approach, we retrieve the shear-wave velocity profile photogrammetry: light blue cylinders b)
indicate the installed seismic networks
beneath the arrays and identify velocity contrasts with depth.
and the pink cylinders represent single
H/V measurements.

We derive the Rayleigh waves dispersion curves through the f-k

Eagles Lake Rockslide analysis of the network vertical recordings of seismic ambient
The Eagles Lake (Lacul Vulturilor) rockslide represents a massive slope failure in Flysch rocks spread noise and we identify the resonance frequency through H/V
technique.
out over a wide area, producing deposits with a maximum thickness of 50 m. This ancient rockslide
The velocity model below each array is then retrieved from the
involved the failure of the entire mountain top and formed in sub-horizontally layered sand- and non-linear joint inversion of the dispersion curve and the
measured resonance frequency using the GEOPSY software suite
mudstone rocks; a gravitational graben above the scarp indicates deep-seated brittle deformation. Array close to village
(Neighborhood Algorithm, Wathelet et al., 2004). Results show
a) This landslide is thought to be generated several thousands years ago. contrast velocities at depth of 70, 44 and 24 m, for the 3 arrays,
b) AMBIENT NOISE ARRAY ANALYSIS
respectively, that are likely to be attributed to the base of the
landslide.
c) a) b) H/V measurements performed at the different
stations show similar peaks, c)
Example of HV measurements for stations at
c) as a function of frequency

Here, H/V curves expressed as a function of

depth

UAS based landscape photogrammetry: red cylinders indicate the installed

seismic networks and the light blue arrows represent the performed SRT . Northern Array
profiles
SEISMIC REFRACTION TOMOGRAPHY
c)
SSW NNE SE NW
Seismological fieldwork carried on in July 2019.

Conclusions
• Seismic ambient noise analysis (HV and Array analysis) allows us to characterize the landslides of Eagles Lake and Varlaam, Romania, with identification of its base.
• Several seismic array configurations with increasing interstation distances allowed us to reconstruct dispersion curves on a broad frequency band, increasing the
investigation depth.
• Integration with several geophysical methods allows us to characterize the landslide body: SRT leads to a good resolution of the elastic properties and evidenced lateral
variations .
• This work, perspectively, aims at reconstructing the conditions and the energy needed for triggering these landslides, in order to understand the seismic component in the
failure process.
NE SW Near Perspectives: geomodelling and back analysis.
Three examples of P-wave velocity profiles landslide dating to eventually correlate with known seismic events
Shear wave velocity profiles obtained from inversion of
(SRT with 48 geophones) obtained respectively
dispersion properties of seismic ambient noise for three
on the top of the mountain, on the border of the
seismic arrays installed on Eagles Lake landslide. The arrays
landslide and on the failed material. The base of
are composed of 7 CMG-6TD sensors with hexagonal
References Acknowledgements:
the landslide is inferred by the high contrast • Micu M., Landslide types and spatial pattern in the Subcarpathian area, Landform Dynamics and Evolution in Romania, 305-325, 2017
configuration and central point. This research is supported by F.N.R.S.
measured in velocities. • Nakamura Y., A method for dynamic characteristics estimation of subsurface using microtremor on the ground surface, Q. Rep. Railw. Tech. Res. Inst., 30, 25-33,
These profile give an estimation of the base of the landslide 1989 (Belgium) under the project ‘4D seismic
(approximately 42,50,36 m, respectively) under the 3 seismic • Rost S., Thomas C., Array Seismology: methods and applications. Rev Geophysics 40:3, 2002 response and slope failure’.

arrays. • SESAME, Guidelines for the implementation of the H/V spectral ratio technique on ambient vibrations. Measurements, processing and interpretations, SESAME
European Research Project, 2004
• Schmidt R., Multiple emitter location and signal parameter estimation. Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions, 34(3): 276:280, 1986
Geophysical and seismological fieldwork carried on in October 2018. • Wathelet et al., Surface waves inversion using a direct search algorithm and its application to ambient vibration measurements. Near Surf. Geoph. 2: 211-221, 2004. lena.cauchie@uliege.be

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