TY - JOUR
T1 - Landslides in the Ethiopian highlands and the Rift margins
AU - Abebe, Bekele
AU - Dramis, Francesco
AU - Fubelli, Giandomenico
AU - Umer, Mohammed
AU - Asrat, Asfawossen
N1 - Funding Information:
The main part of the financial support for this study was obtained from the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission (ESTC). We thank the Commission for their unrelenting assistance and collaboration.
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - Landslide hazard is one of the crucial environmental constraints for the development of Ethiopia, representing a limiting factor for urbanization and infrastructures. The high relief and the rugged topography induced by a strong Plio-Quaternary uplift, the occurrence of clayey horizons within the sedimentary sequences, the dense network of tectonic fractures and faults, the thick eluvial mantles on volcanic outcrops, and the thick colluvial-alluvial deposits at the foot of steep slopes are the predisposing factors for a large variety of mass movements. Heavy summer rainfall is the main triggering factor of most landslides, some of which undergo a step-like evolution with long-lasting quiescence intervals. First generation movements are commonly restricted to shallow phenomena, such as soil slips or mud flows in eluvial-colluvial material. Fast moving slope failures, such as rock slides, topplings and falls, are also triggered by earthquakes. To mitigate the landslide risk, any first priority measure should include adequate drainage of slopes in order to reduce water infiltration. On the other hand, appropriate site selection for buildings, transferring risky settlements, accurate geological control of works, and education campaigns are all strongly recommended.
AB - Landslide hazard is one of the crucial environmental constraints for the development of Ethiopia, representing a limiting factor for urbanization and infrastructures. The high relief and the rugged topography induced by a strong Plio-Quaternary uplift, the occurrence of clayey horizons within the sedimentary sequences, the dense network of tectonic fractures and faults, the thick eluvial mantles on volcanic outcrops, and the thick colluvial-alluvial deposits at the foot of steep slopes are the predisposing factors for a large variety of mass movements. Heavy summer rainfall is the main triggering factor of most landslides, some of which undergo a step-like evolution with long-lasting quiescence intervals. First generation movements are commonly restricted to shallow phenomena, such as soil slips or mud flows in eluvial-colluvial material. Fast moving slope failures, such as rock slides, topplings and falls, are also triggered by earthquakes. To mitigate the landslide risk, any first priority measure should include adequate drainage of slopes in order to reduce water infiltration. On the other hand, appropriate site selection for buildings, transferring risky settlements, accurate geological control of works, and education campaigns are all strongly recommended.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.06.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.06.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:75149160905
VL - 56
SP - 131
EP - 138
JO - Journal of African Earth Sciences
JF - Journal of African Earth Sciences
SN - 1464-343X
IS - 4-5
ER -