Landslides by liquefaction

Abstract

Two studies, led by Bradley and Watkinson, used satellite imagery to show that irrigation of rice and other crops contributed to devastating landslides following the 2018 earthquake in Palu, Indonesia. They suggest that seismic shaking triggered liquefaction of saturated soils and led to sliding, despite very shallow slopes – a hazard that could threaten gently sloping irrigated terrains in other tectonically active regions.

Additional details