Landslide monitoring in southern Peru

Abstract

Monitoring active landslides requires comparing different observations including meteorological, hydrological, geodesic and seismic ones. In the framework of the SEG-Geophysicist Without Border “LAMOPE” project (Landslide Monitoring in Peru), we designed and installed three observation huts on the active landslide affecting the Maca village in the very touristic and agricultural Colca valley, southern Peru. We compare the evolution of the soil rigidity obtained from ambient seismic noise correlation and the GPS ground deformation to external possible triggering factors such as local and regional earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and seasonal rainfalls. The final goal is to establish a warning procedure for the landslide acceleration impacting the populated Maca village.