Landslide Characteristics Revealed by High-Frequency Seismic Waves from the 2017 Landslide in Central Japan

Abstract

Abstract The recent development of advanced seismograph networks offers us a chance to remotely detect landslide occurrences with high-frequency (>∼1 Hz) components. This study examined a landslide in central Japan that produced clearly detectable seismic signals at multiple seismic stations in a permanent network. Wave packets propagated with a group velocity of 3 km/s from the landslide area. Using a source location determination method with amplitude information from the high-frequency component, the source location of the wave packets was shown to be in the vicinity of the landslide with an error of 5 km. Moreover, seismograms specific to this landslide also contained a distinct impulsive phase with a source located in the vicinity of the landslide. The study demonstrated that seismic waves with a high-frequency component from landslides can be used to estimate their mechanisms as well as their locations when they are recognized by a routine seismic network.