Rainfall-induced shallow landslides triggered after vegetation removed because of fires: G-XSLIP application to Gioiosa Marea (Sicily, Italy)

Abstract

The paper analyses how vegetation prevents the triggering of rainfall-induced shallow landslides by using the G-XSLIP platform, which is based on G-SLIP model, i.e., the SLIP model updated with vegetation parameters for root reinforcement and rain interception due to canopy. G-XSLIP is applied to an area in Gioiosa Marea (Sicily, Italy), where on 9th September 2016 shallow landslides occurred, depositing on the state road SS 113. The analyses demonstrate that the triggering of these phenomena is related to the removal of vegetation after summer fires some months before, which decreases computed safety factors by about half.