Characteristics, types, main causes and development of high-position geohazard chains along the Jiali fault zone, Tibet, China

Abstract

High-position geohazard chains are widely distributed along the Jiali fault zone, Tibet, China. They often induced severe flood disasters in the river basins of the Yigong Zangbu, Palong Zangbu, and the downstream of Yalu Zangbu, such as the famous Yigong, Guxiang, Jianmupuqu, and Midui high-position geohazard chains. Based on the field investigations and previously published data, these high-position geohazard chains are classified into 4 types: 1) high-position landslide-debris flow-dammed lake-flood, 2) high-position landslide-dammed lake-flood, 3) high-position debris flow-dammed lake-flood, 4) glacial lake outburst flood. The formation conditions of the high-position geohazard chains are analyzed from 4 aspects, that is 1) geological structures and earthquakes, 2) landscape and river system, 3) glacier, 4) meteorology. In the end, the main causes and development trends of these geohazard chains are discussed. We believe that the high-position geohazard chains would be more frequent along the Jiali fault zone, with the global warming and the enhancement of the human engineering activities.

Keywords

• jiali fault zone
• high-position geohazard chains
• evolutional processes of the geohazard chains
• formation conditions
• causes