Geo-information analysis of natural factors of landslide formation in the region of the Folded Carpathians (in the Zakarpattia Region)

Abstract

The article aims at performing the geoinformation analysis of natural factors and an assessment of their impact on the development of landslide processes in the region of the Folded Carpathians (in the Transcarpathian region) by engineering and geological zoning. The following research materials and methods were used in the study: cadastre of landslides of the Transcarpathian region (SRDE “Geoinform of Ukraine”) for the period of activation in 1980, 1998-2001; cartographic information on hydrography, tectonic structure, data from weather stations in the region. The performed geoinformation analysis using QGIS tools made it possible to calculate the impact of landslides on separate engineering and geological areas, districts, the distance from landslides to the base of erosion, faults, earthquake epicenters, the performed statistical analysis using the Statistica program quantitatively assessed the influence of natural factors on the development of landslides. The factor analysis established that the high susceptibility to landslides of the low-mountain massifs of the Vododil-Verkhovyna Carpathians (Ж-3) and the medium-altitude Polonyna-Chornohora and RakhivChvvchyn ranges (Ж-4) could be explained by the combined influence of geomorphology (absolute elevations, slope steepness, undercutting of slopes by river erosion). In addition, the region (Ж-4) is significantly influenced by tectonic and seismic factors (landslides develop in the zones affected by tectonic faults and near the centers of earthquakes), while atmospheric precipitation plays the role of a trigger factor. The considered factors explain 68-77% of the reasons for the development of landslide processes. It can be assumed that the remaining proportion is related to the geological structure (the presence of two-component clay flysch) and the influence of manmade factors (deforestation, trimming of slopes during the construction of roads, construction of communications, structures, etc.)

Keywords

• geoinformation analysis
• landslides
• folded carpathians
• faults
• factor analysis