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EARTHQUAKE ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (3): 54-72.doi: 10.12196/j.issn.1000-3274.2025.03.004

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Volume Estimation of Loess Landslides Triggered by Strong Historical Earthquakes on the Loess Plateau: A Case Study of the Zhangling Landslide Induced by the 1556 Huaxian Earthquake in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China

ZHAO Xin-yu1,2, XU Yue-ren1,2, TIAN Qin-jian3, YUAN Rui-min1,2, ZHANG Ji-yan1,2   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Earthquake Forecasting and Risk Assessment, Ministry of Emergency Management, Institute of Earthquake Forecasting, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100036, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Earthquake Prediction (Institute of Earthquake Forecasting, China Earthquake Administration), China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100036, China;
    3. China Earthquake Disaster Prevention Center, Beijing 100029, China
  • Received:2024-11-18 Revised:2025-01-13 Online:2025-07-31 Published:2025-10-23

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Abstract: Accurately estimating the volume of loess landslides triggered by strong historical earthquakes on the Loess Plateau is crucial for a deeper understanding of earthquake-induced disaster mechanisms and the chain effects of seismic hazards. It also serves as an important indicator for quantitatively assessing the role of earthquakes in surface processes. This study focuses on the Zhangling Landslide (ZLLs), located within the epicentral region of the AD 1556 Huaxian M8.5 earthquake in Shaanxi Province. The Zhangling Landslide, a well-documented typical co-seismic landslide in historical records, was previously estimated to have a volume of 1.0×108 m3. In this study, we employed contemporary UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) surveying technology and obtained a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with a resolution of 0.2 meters. By integrating these data with Keyhole satellite imagery, we accurately delineated the source, transport, and accumulation zones of ZLLs. Utilizing multiple methods, including the ellipsoid model, surface volume method, and profile estimation, the volume of the ZLLs was determined to be in the range of 6.23×106～11.7×106 m3, which is an order of magnitude smaller than the previously reported estimates. The investigation reveals that the source area of the Zhangling landslide developed within aeolian loess layers on the steep slope of the right bank terrace of the Weihe River, with its volume constrained by both the thickness of aeolian loess deposits and the interface with underlying bedrock strata. Furthermore, this study also compares the estimation results of loess landslide volumes from other recent researches, highlighting that UAV-based assessments are limited by variations in loess deposit thickness and slope erosion, a common issue in regional studies. While landslide interpretation typically focuses on affected areas, volume estimation must fully consider the scale of source areas and their control mechanisms governed by Quaternary loess thickness and bedrock interfaces. This study provides a reliable quantitative basis for evaluating the characteristics of coseismic loess landslides on the Loess Plateau.

Key words: The 1556 Huaxian M8.5 earthquake, Zhangling landslide, Loess landslide, Earthquake disaster chains

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