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01-08-2013

Land Management Versus Natural Factors in Land Instability: Some Examples in Northern Spain

Authors: Viola Maria Bruschi, Jaime Bonachea, Juan Remondo, Jose Gómez-Arozamena, Victoria Rivas, Matteo Barbieri, Stefano Capocchi, Mauro Soldati, Antonio Cendrero

Published in: Environmental Management | Issue 2/2013

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Abstract

The objective of this work is to test a hypothesis formulated on the basis of former results which considers that there might be a “global geomorphic change,” due to activities related to land management and not determined by climate change, which could be causing an acceleration of geomorphic processes. Possible relationships between some geomorphic processes related to land instability (landslides or sediment generation) and potential triggering factors are analyzed in study areas in northern Spain. The analysis is based on landslide inventories covering different periods, as well as the determination of sedimentation rates. Temporal landslide and sedimentation rate trends are compared with different indicators of human activities (land-use change, logging, forest fires) and with potential natural triggers (rainfall, seismicity). The possible influence of the road network in the distribution of landslides is also analyzed. Results obtained show that there is a general increase of both landslide and sedimentation rates with time that cannot be explained satisfactorily by observed rainfall trends and even less by seismicity. Land-use change appears to be by far the main factor leading to land instability, with some changes producing up to a 12-fold increase of landslide rate. A relationship between road network and the spatial distribution of landslides has also been observed. These results do confirm the existence of an acceleration of geomorphic processes in the region, and also suggest that climate-related factors play a limited role in the changes observed.

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Title: Land Management Versus Natural Factors in Land Instability: Some Examples in Northern Spain
Authors: Viola Maria Bruschi
Jaime Bonachea
Juan Remondo
Jose Gómez-Arozamena
Victoria Rivas
Matteo Barbieri
Stefano Capocchi
Mauro Soldati
Antonio Cendrero
Publication date: 01-08-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Environmental Management / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 0364-152X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0108-7

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