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Landslides of the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake, northern China

Xu, Yueren; Liu-Zeng, Jing; Allen, Mark B.; Zhang, Weiheng; Du, Peng

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Authors

Yueren Xu

Jing Liu-Zeng

Weiheng Zhang

Peng Du



Abstract

The great M ~ 8 1920 Haiyuan earthquake (HYEQ) was one of the largest and most deadly earthquakes in China in the last century, with ~ 234,000 deaths. The earthquake occurred within the Loess Plateau of northern China, where Quaternary loess deposits form a distinctive blanket across the landscape. Large regions of this loess cover experienced co-seismic landslides. Based on an analysis of the original disaster reports, field surveys, and satellite image interpretation, we have compiled the shaking effects of the earthquake, including the distribution of landslides, fatalities, and structural damage. Landslides triggered by the HYEQ (n > 7,000) are concentrated south of the Haiyuan fault, in a region that has both thick loess cover and long-term relief generated by the drainage network. This distribution is spatially separated from landslides triggered by other earthquakes. We find that in contrast to previous studies, the most important factor in the severe death toll of the HYEQ was the collapse of housing by ground shaking, including collapse of loess house-caves. Landslides were a secondary factor; although up to 32,000 deaths occurred in areas with intense landsliding. Based on the revised distribution pattern of landslides and damage (e.g., house collapses), we suggest that the isoseismal intensity IX line extends south of previous locations. We have also identified 126 dammed lakes created by co-seismic landslides, which form major modifications of this semi-arid landscape. The research methods in this paper, combining historical review, satellite image interpretation, and field validation of landslides, can be used as a reference for studies of other areas affected by historical earthquakes and co-seismic landslides, elsewhere in the Loess Plateau and beyond.

Citation

Xu, Y., Liu-Zeng, J., Allen, M. B., Zhang, W., & Du, P. (2021). Landslides of the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake, northern China. Landslides, 18, 935-953. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01512-5

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 10, 2020
Online Publication Date Sep 9, 2020
Publication Date 2021-03
Deposit Date Sep 18, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Landslides
Print ISSN 1612-510X
Electronic ISSN 1612-5118
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Pages 935-953
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01512-5

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