Unraveling the dynamics of a creeping slope in Northwestern Colombia: Hydrological variables, and geoelectrical and seismic signatures

Juan C Loaiza-Usuga; Gaspar Monsalve; Aleen Pertuz-Paz; Laura Arce-Monslave; Mateo Sanin; Leon F Ramirez-Hoyos; Roy C Sidle

doi:10.3390/w10111498

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Unraveling the dynamics of a creeping slope in Northwestern Colombia: Hydrological variables, and geoelectrical and seismic signatures

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Unraveling the dynamics of a creeping slope in Northwestern Colombia: Hydrological variables, and geoelectrical and seismic signatures

Juan C Loaiza-Usuga, Gaspar Monsalve, Aleen Pertuz-Paz, Laura Arce-Monslave, Mateo Sanin, Leon F Ramirez-Hoyos and Roy C Sidle

Water, Vol.10(11), 1498

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w10111498

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Abstract

geophysical surveys

Piezometers

runoff

soil creep

subsurface flow

water table

Mass movements are quite common in the Northern Andes and constitute one of the major hazards in the region. In particular, along valley flanks where the city of Medellin (Colombia) is located, rainfall is the main trigger of these phenomena, but little is understood about how water in the soil and subsoil behaves. In this study, we show data from some basic soil hydrology measurements and conventional geophysical surveys within a ~4 ha experimental plot that is experiencing soil creep. The seasonally wet study site has an average slope gradient of 33%, and its surface geology consists of a series of older deposits of debris flows. Our measurements show a low surface runoff, which ranges from 4 to 11% of the rainfall; infiltration is 89-96% of the rainfall, and 15-33% corresponds to drainage water at shallow levels in the soil (20-50 cm); piezometric measurements reveal a mostly steady-state water table. About 14-54% of the rainfall becomes subsurface flow within the first ~1-2 m below the surface. Geoelectrical and seismic surveys suggest small temporal changes in the properties of materials shallower than 2 m, consistent with the steady-state water table and the permanent and high subsurface flow. These geophysical surveys also indicate the presence of a major discontinuity at ~4-6 m below the surface, which we interpret as the limit between different prior debris flows.

Details

Title: Unraveling the dynamics of a creeping slope in Northwestern Colombia: Hydrological variables, and geoelectrical and seismic signatures
Authors: Juan C Loaiza-Usuga (Author) - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
Gaspar Monsalve (Author) - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
Aleen Pertuz-Paz (Author) - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
Laura Arce-Monslave (Author) - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
Mateo Sanin (Author) - Universidad EAFIT, Colombia
Leon F Ramirez-Hoyos (Author) - Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
Roy C Sidle (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Water, Vol.10(11), 1498
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.3390/w10111498
ISSN: 2073-4441
Copyright note: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450653502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences; Water Resources

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