Urban landslides in the vicinity of Vancouver, British Columbia, with special reference to the December 1979 rainstorm

1981 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Eisbacher ◽  
J. J. Clague
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Local Newspapers ◽  
Debris Avalanches ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Historical landslides in the urbanized Vancouver region, southwestern British Columbia, have almost commonly occurred along escarpments within and at the margins of gently rolling upland surfaces underlain by Pleistocene unconsolidated sediments. The most common and most destructive landslides are debris avalanches and debris flows. They are triggered by intense autumn and winter rainstorms, when water infiltrates and saturates the surficial layer of weathered colluvium. After failure the veneer of debris gains momentum and picks up additional soil and uprooted vegetation. Debris avalanches may temporarily block gullies swollen with runoff water, thus changing into rapidly moving debris flows.A severe rainstorm in December 1979 was accompanied by destructive debris avalanches and debris flows in urban areas in the vicinity of Vancouver. A search of local newspapers and meteorological records back to 1900 indicates that this event was not unique, for at least 26 other comparable storms have triggered landslides in the Vancouver region during this century. Thus it is likely that landslides similar to those of December 1979 will occur repeatedly in the future. The danger of such landslides to life and property will grow if potentially hazardous sites are urbanized without appropriate protective measures.

A debris flow triggered by the breaching of a moraine-dammed lake, Klattasine Creek, British Columbia

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1492-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Clague ◽  
S. G. Evans ◽  
Iain G. Blown
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Southern Coast ◽  
Coast Mountains ◽  
Debris Avalanches ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediment ◽  
Sudden Release ◽  
Dammed Lake ◽  
Unusual Origin

A very large debris flow of unusual origin occurred in the basin of Klattasine Creek (southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia) between June 1971 and September 1973. The flow was triggered by the sudden release of up to 1.7 × 106 m3 of water from a moraine-dammed lake at the head of a tributary of Klattasine Creek. Water escaping from the lake mobilized large quantities of unconsolidated sediment in the valley below and thus produced a debris flow that travelled in one or, more likely, several surges 8 km downvalley on an average gradient of 10° to the mouth of the stream. Here, the flow deposited a sheet of coarse bouldery debris up to about 20 m thick, which temporarily blocked Homathko River. Slumps, slides, and debris avalanches occurred on the walls of the valley both during and in years following the debris flow. Several secondary debris flows of relatively small size have swept down Klattasine Creek in the 12–14 years since Klattasine Lake drained.

Landslides and surficial deposits in urban areas of British Columbia: A review

1982 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Evans
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Slope Failure ◽  
Glacial Till ◽  
Geotechnical Characteristics ◽  
Surficial Deposits ◽  
Glaciomarine Sediments ◽  
Steep Slopes

Landslides in surficial deposits occur commonly in the urban environment of British Columbia. Three groups of surficial materials are especially prone to slope failure. These are glaciomarine sediments, glaciolacustrine deposits, and glacial till that mantles steep mountain slopes. The geological and geotechnical characteristics of these three materials are examined and discussed.The sensitivity, metastable fabric, and geological heterogeneity of glaciomarine sediments control their landslide behaviour. A regional variation in glaciolacustrine deposits is suggested. The Southern Interior and Columbia deposits are dominated by silt varves and those of the Northern Interior by clay varves. The silts are sensitive and collapsible under certain moisture and loading conditions. The effect of urbanisation on these silts in the semiarid Southern Interior is considerable. The retrogressive behaviour of slides in silts and clays in urban areas is also examined.Open-slope and channelled debris flows in till mantles are discussed. They occur mainly on steep slopes in the Coast Ranges as a response to heavy, relief-induced rainfall. The effect of urbanization on slope stability is also discussed.

scholarly journals Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Modern Stormwater Treatment Assets

Urban Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Hadi Zamanifard ◽  
Edward A. Morgan ◽  
Wade L. Hadwen
Keyword(s):  
Urban Design ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Urban Runoff ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Stormwater Treatment ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Community Acceptance ◽  
Water Sensitive Urban Design

Modern stormwater treatment assets are a form of water sensitive urban design (WSUD) features that aim to reduce the volumes of sediment, nutrients and gross pollutants discharged into receiving waterways. Local governments and developers in urban areas are installing and maintaining a large number of stormwater treatment assets, with the aim of improving urban runoff water quality. Many of these assets take up significant urban space and are highly visible and as a result, community acceptance is essential for effective WSUD design and implementation. However, community perceptions and knowledge about these assets have not been widely studied. This study used a survey to investigate community perceptions and knowledge about stormwater treatment assets in Brisbane, Australia. The results suggest that there is limited community knowledge of these assets, but that communities notice them and value their natural features when well-maintained. This study suggests that local governments may be able to better inform residents about the importance of these assets, and that designing for multiple purposes may improve community acceptance and support for the use of Council funds to maintain them.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Particulate Matter Pollution in the Urban Areas of Croatia, EU

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Martina Habulan ◽  
Bojan Đurin ◽  
Anita Ptiček Siročić ◽  
Nikola Sakač
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Two Cities ◽  
Adriatic Coast ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10 ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Particulate Matter Pollution

Particulate matter (PM) comprises a mixture of chemical compounds and water particles found in the air. The size of suspended particles is directly related to the negative impact on human health and the environment. In this paper, we present an analysis of the PM pollution in urban areas of Croatia. Data on PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were measured with nine instruments at seven stationary measuring units located in three continental cities, namely Zagreb (the capital), Slavonski Brod, and Osijek, and two cities on the Adriatic coast, namely Rijeka and Dubrovnik. We analyzed an hourly course of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and average seasonal PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations from 2017 to 2019. At most measuring stations, maximum concentrations were recorded during autumn and winter, which can be explained by the intensive use of fossil fuels and traffic. Increases in PM concentrations during the summer months at measuring stations in Rijeka and Dubrovnik may be associated with the intensive arrival of tourists by air during the tourist season, and lower PM concentrations during the winter periods may be caused by a milder climate consequently resulting in lower consumption of fossil fuels and use of electric energy for heating.

The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 4. Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 569-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Page ◽  
Ronald E. Wall ◽  
Stephen J. Darbyshire ◽  
Gerald A. Mulligan
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Leaf Shape ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Invasive Alien Plant ◽  
Heracleum Mantegazzianum

Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed) is an invasive alien plant of management concern in southern Canada where it has escaped from horticulture and established and spread in natural, ruderal, and agricultural ecosystems. It poses a threat to natural ecosystems and human health, and is also a weed in agricultural and urban areas. It is a member of the Carrot family (Apiaceae) and is closely related to the native species Heracleum maximum Bartram (cow-parsnip). It is a monocarpic perennial, which generally flowers in its 3rd or 4th year. Large size, leaf shape, dark reddish pigments in patches on stems and petioles, and fruit characteristics readily distinguish H. mantegazzianum from other plants in Canada. It is increasingly common in riparian areas, floodplains, and forest edges in or near urban areas in southwestern British Columbia and southern Ontario. Based on herbarium specimens, H. mantegazzianum was first recorded in Ontario in 1949, British Columbia in 1964, Nova Scotia in 1980, Quebec in 1990, and New Brunswick in 2000. The development of dense stands of H. mantegazzianum can also reduce the richness of native plants. Contact with H. mantegazzianum can cause phytophotodermatitis, a serious skin inflammation caused by UV photo-activation of furanocoumarins present in the sap. Control methods include herbicide application, mechanical cutting, and animal grazing, but strategies to address seed dispersal and re-establishment from dormant seed must also be adopted. Widespread establishment in southern Canada suggests that eradication is unlikely. However, range expansion and rapid population growth can be prevented through strategic management including public education. Key words: Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Apiaceae, HERMZ, invasive plant, weed biology, furanocoumarins

Lightweight aggregates to reduce heavy metal pollution in green infrastructure for urban stormwater management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Concepcion Pla ◽  
Javier Valdes-Abellan ◽  
Miguel Angel Pardo ◽  
Maria Jose Moya-Llamas ◽  
David Benavente
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Stormwater Management ◽  
Lightweight Aggregates ◽  
Urban Stormwater ◽  
Runoff Water

<p>The impervious nature of urban areas is mostly responsible for urban flooding, runoff water pollution and the interception of groundwater recharge. Green infrastructure and sustainable urban drainage systems combine natural and artificial measures to mitigate the abovementioned problems, improving stormwater management and simultaneously increasing the environmental values of urban areas. The actual rate of urban growth in many urban areas requires the enhancement and optimization of stormwater management infrastructures to integrate the territorial development with the natural processes. Regarding the quality of runoff stormwater, heavy metals are critical for their impact on human health and ecological systems, even more if we consider the cumulative effect that they produce on biota. Thus, innovative stormwater management approaches must consider new solutions to deal with heavy metal pollution problems caused by runoff. In this study, we propose the employment of Arlita<sup>®</sup> and Filtralite<sup>®</sup>, two kind of lightweight aggregates obtained from expanded clays, to remove heavy metal concentration from runoff stormwater. Laboratory experiments were developed to evaluate the removal rate of different heavy metals existent in runoff stormwater. The lightweight aggregates acted as filter materials in column experiments to quantify their removal capacity. In addition, batch tests were also developed to evaluate the exhaustive capacity of the materials. Results from the study confirmed the efficiency of the selected lightweight aggregates to reduce the heavy metals concentration by up to 90% in urban stormwater runoff.</p>

scholarly journals Debris-flow susceptibility assessment through cellular automata modeling: an example from 15–16 December 1999 disaster at Cervinara and San Martino Valle Caudina (Campania, southern Italy)

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Iovine ◽  
S. Di Gregorio ◽  
V. Lupiano
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Automata ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Landslide Risk ◽  
Campania Region ◽  
Optimal Values ◽  
Debris Flow Susceptibility

Abstract. On 15–16 December 1999, heavy rainfall severely stroke Campania region (southern Italy), triggering numerous debris flows on the slopes of the San Martino Valle Caudina-Cervinara area. Soil slips originated within the weathered volcaniclastic mantle of soil cover overlying the carbonate skeleton of the massif. Debris slides turned into fast flowing mixtures of matrix and large blocks, downslope eroding the soil cover and increasing their original volume. At the base of the slopes, debris flows impacted on the urban areas, causing victims and severe destruction (Vittori et al., 2000). Starting from a recent study on landslide risk conditions in Campania, carried out by the Regional Authority (PAI –Hydrogeological setting plan, in press), an evaluation of the debris-flow susceptibility has been performed for selected areas of the above mentioned villages. According to that study, such zones would be in fact characterised by the highest risk levels within the administrative boundaries of the same villages ("HR-zones"). Our susceptibility analysis has been performed by applying SCIDDICA S3–hex – a hexagonal Cellular Automata model (von Neumann, 1966), specifically developed for simulating the spatial evolution of debris flows (Iovine et al., 2002). In order to apply the model to a given study area, detailed topographic data and a map of the erodable soil cover overlying the bedrock of the massif must be provided (as input matrices); moreover, extent and location of landslide source must also be given. Real landslides, selected among those triggered on winter 1999, have first been utilised for calibrating SCIDDICA S3–hex and for defining "optimal" values for parameters. Calibration has been carried out with a GIS tool, by quantitatively comparing simulations with actual cases: optimal values correspond to best simulations. Through geological evaluations, source locations of new phenomena have then been hypothesised within the HR-zones. Initial volume for these new cases has been estimated by considering the actual statistics of the 1999 landslides. Finally, by merging the results of simulations, a deterministic susceptibility zonation of the considered area has been obtained. In this paper, aiming at illustrating the potential for debris-flow hazard analyses of the model SCIDDICA S3–hex, a methodological example of susceptibility zonation of the Vallicelle HR-zone is presented.

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