RAPID Collaborative Research: Landslides caused by the April 2015 Nepal earthquakes, from immediate hazard to tectonic driver

对该项目的非技术性描述，解释了该项目的意义和重要性：山体滑坡在世界许多山区是一个持续的威胁，在易发生大地震的地区，危险增加。尽管存在这种联系，但关于地震事件可能引发山体滑坡的程度的知识还很初级。这个快速项目将利用卫星图像分析2015年4月尼泊尔大地震和余震后山体滑坡的分布情况。研究小组还将进行实地工作，以记录移动的物质量，评估滑坡随后再活动的威胁，并提供所需证据，以更准确地预测其他易发生滑坡的地区的危险程度。这一快速项目将(1)利用喜马拉雅山脉沿线的高分辨率卫星图像绘制滑坡地图，并探索从地震前后建立高分辨率数字高程模型的努力；(2)通过实地测量和摄影测量分析表征滑坡的几何形状，从而有可能严格确定滑坡体积；(3)开发和实施泥沙路线模型，以识别和监测泥沙输送；以及(4)收集和分析有望深入了解侵蚀和沉积物运移的基线地球化学指标的样本，重点是碎屑类宇宙成因的铍同位素和铀-钍/氦比率，并辅之以监测河流溶质化学变化的努力。学生将积极参与研究的方方面面。

A non-technical description of the project, which explains the project's significance and importanceLandslides are a continual threat in many mountainous regions of the world and the danger is increased in areas prone to large earthquakes. In spite of this association, knowledge concerning the extent to which seismic events can trigger landslides is rudimentary. This RAPID project will use satellite images to analyze the distribution of landslides following the large earthquake and aftershocks in Nepal of April, 2015. Field work will also be conducted by the research team to document the volume of material that has moved, evaluate the threat for subsequent remobilization of the landslides, and provide the evidence needed to more accurately predict the hazard level in other landslide-prone regions.A technical description of the projectThis RAPID project will (1) develop landslide maps from high resolution satellite imagery along the Himalaya and explore efforts to build high resolution Digital Elevation Models from before and after the earthquake; (2) characterize landslide geometries through field measurements and photogrammetric analysis, making it possible to rigorously determine landslide volumes; (3) develop and implement a sediment routing model to identify and monitor sediment transport; and (4) collect and analyze samples for baseline geochemical indexes that promise insight into erosion and sediment transport, with a priority on detrital cosmogenic beryllium isotopes and uranium-thorium/helium ratios, together with complementary efforts to monitor changes in river solute chemistry. Students will be actively engaged in all aspects of the research.