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Megalandslides and deglaciation: modelling of two case studies in the Central Andes

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Abstract

Large-volume rock slope failures are one of the main hazards in high mountain glaciated valleys, inducing severe damage to population and infrastructure, representing a high risk for society, ecosystems and infrastructure. The Andes Mountain Range is shaped by glacial activity and therefore by megalandslides due to changes in shear strength and deformation during periods of glaciation and deglaciation, which modify the slope stress state and, along with other processes, induce progressive damage in the rock mass, eventually leading to failure. The study focuses on validating the hypothesis that glacier unloading contributes to these types of landslides. The research numerically modelled the effects of glacier unloading on stress distribution and its potential impact on landslides, particularly using two Chilean cases: The 1987 Estero Parraguirre and the 2018 Yerba Loca rock slides. These models used the Universal Distinct Element Code, along with geological and geotechnical data from previous studies and field observations. The numerical results showed that the combination of shear stress changes due to glacial unloading and structural control from main discontinuities could cause landslides, with the deglaciation of glaciers potentially preparing the slope for catastrophic failure that may occur due to external climatic or tectonic triggers. The results suggest that stress redistribution and damage to the rock mass caused by deglaciation can lead to progressive failure. Further work is needed to understand better the slope failure mechanics to assess the geohazards in the Andes and other mountain regions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by ANID Fondecyt 1201360 grant (S.S., F.O., M.L.) and Simon Fraser University Faculty Recruitment Grant (S.S.). In addition, the authors thank Shantal Palma and Patricio Gómez (Itasca Chile) for their support in modelling, Sofía Rebolledo, Javiera Carrasco, and Karla Burgos for their collaboration in the fieldwork, and Felipe Ugalde and Alejandro Alfaro for their fruitful discussions on the subject.

Funding

This work was funded by ANID Fondecyt 1201360 grant (S.S., F.O., M.L.) and Simon Fraser University Faculty Recruitment Grant (S.S.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Sergio A. Sepúlveda

  2. Institute of Engineering Sciences, Universidad de O’Higgins, Rancagua, Chile

    Sergio A. Sepúlveda

  3. Department of Geology, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Sergio A. Sepúlveda, Christian Tobar, Vannesa Rosales & Marisol Lara

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Felipe Ochoa-Cornejo

Authors
  1. Sergio A. Sepúlveda
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  2. Christian Tobar
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  3. Vannesa Rosales
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  4. Felipe Ochoa-Cornejo
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  5. Marisol Lara
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design and participated in field data collection. Computational analyses were performed by CT and VR, supervised by ML, SS and FO. The first draft of the manuscript was written by SS, FO and CT, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the confection of the figures. Project management by SS All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sergio A. Sepúlveda.

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Sepúlveda, S.A., Tobar, C., Rosales, V. et al. Megalandslides and deglaciation: modelling of two case studies in the Central Andes. Nat Hazards 118, 1561–1572 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06067-x

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