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Landslide triggers along volcanic rock slopes in eastern Sicily (Italy)

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  • Maria Barbano
  • Giovanna Pappalardo
  • Claudia Pirrotta
  • Simone Mineo

Abstract

A new dataset of landslides, occurred in a tectonically active region, has been analysed in order to understand the causes of the slope instability. The landslides we have dealt with took place along the volcanic rock cliff of S. Caterina and S. Maria La Scala villages (eastern Sicily, Italy), a densely inhabited area located on the eastern margin of Mt. Etna, where some seismogenic faults, locally named Timpe system, slip during moderate local earthquakes and also move with aseismic creep mechanisms. The results show that landslides are triggered by heavy rainfalls, earthquakes and creep fault episodes. Indeed, they occur along discrete fault segments, exhibiting a combination of both brittle failure, indicated by the earthquake occurrence, and aseismic creep events. The analysis of seismicity occurred on the Timpe fault system has shown that the active Acireale fault, in its southernmost segment, is subject to an aseismic sliding, which increases after the stick–slip motion in the nearby faults. Therefore, aseismic creep seems to concur in the predisposition of a rock to fail, since strains can increase the jointing of rock masses leading to a modification in the slope stability. Understanding the factors concurring to the slope instability is a useful tool for future assessments of the landslide hazard in densely settled areas, located on a volcanic edifice, such as Etna that is slowly sliding seawards, and where active faults, seismicity and heavy rains affect the deeply fractured slopes. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Barbano & Giovanna Pappalardo & Claudia Pirrotta & Simone Mineo, 2014. "Landslide triggers along volcanic rock slopes in eastern Sicily (Italy)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 73(3), pages 1587-1607, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:73:y:2014:i:3:p:1587-1607
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-014-1160-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Cervelli & Paul Segall & Kaj Johnson & Michael Lisowski & Asta Miklius, 2002. "Sudden aseismic fault slip on the south flank of Kilauea volcano," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6875), pages 1014-1018, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alfonso Ontiveros-Ortega & Iban Plaza & Julio Calero & Jose Alberto Moleon & Jesús Miguel Ibañez, 2023. "High variability of interaction energy between volcanic particles: implications for deposit stability," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(3), pages 3103-3122, July.
    2. Simone Mineo & Giovanna Pappalardo, 2019. "Sustainable Fruition of Cultural Heritage in Areas Affected by Rockfalls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Mauro Bonasera & Ciro Cerrone & Fabiola Caso & Stefania Lanza & Giandomenico Fubelli & Giovanni Randazzo, 2022. "Geomorphological and Structural Assessment of the Coastal Area of Capo Faro Promontory, NE Salina (Aeolian Islands, Italy)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-25, July.
    4. Simone Mineo & Giovanna Pappalardo & Salvatore Onorato, 2021. "Geomechanical Characterization of a Rock Cliff Hosting a Cultural Heritage through Ground and UAV Rock Mass Surveys for Its Sustainable Fruition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.

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