Forest clearing and regional landsliding

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2000 Forest clearing and regional landsliding David R. Montgomery; David R. Montgomery 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kevin M. Schmidt; Kevin M. Schmidt 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Harvey M. Greenberg; Harvey M. Greenberg 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar William E. Dietrich William E. Dietrich 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information David R. Montgomery 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Kevin M. Schmidt 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Harvey M. Greenberg 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA William E. Dietrich 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 31 Dec 1999 Accepted: 11 Jan 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (4): 311–314. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<311:FCARL>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 13 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 31 Dec 1999 Accepted: 11 Jan 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation David R. Montgomery, Kevin M. Schmidt, Harvey M. Greenberg, William E. Dietrich; Forest clearing and regional landsliding. Geology 2000;; 28 (4): 311–314. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<311:FCARL>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The influence of forest clearing on landsliding is central to long-standing concern over the effects of timber harvesting on slope stability. Here we document a strong topographic control on shallow landsliding by combining unique ground-based landslide surveys in an intensively monitored study area with digital terrain modeling using high-resolution laser altimetry and a coarser resolution regional study of 3224 landslides. As predicted by our digital terrain–based model, landslides occur disproportionately in steep, convergent topography. In terrain predicted to be at low risk of slope failure, a random model performs equally well to our mechanism-based model. Our monitoring shows that storms with 24 hr rainfall recurrence intervals of less than 4 yr triggered landslides in the decade after forest clearing and that conventional monitoring programs can substantially underestimate the effects of forest clearing. Our regional analysis further substantiates that forest clearing dramatically accelerates shallow landsliding in steep terrain typical of the Pacific Northwest. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.