Four active landslides are being investigated by OMIV to document their dynamics and their response to changes in forcings. The landslides have been selected in order to sample a large variety of rocks (varved clays, clays-shales, micaschists, gneiss, granite) and climate settings (e.g. rainfall amounts) in the Alps. The four landslides are representative of several mechanisms (e.g. diffuse versus localized deformation, brittle versus ductile) and allows to learn more on:

  • the feedback mechanisms between pore water pressure changes and deformation of varved clays at Mas d'Avignonet landslide,
  • the effect of rheological changes on the fluidification of clayey landslides at Super-Sauze,
  • the influence of water circulation and material erosion in fractures on the dynamics of large deep-seated slope deformation at Séchilienne and La Clapière.

 

Classification-Landslide-OMIV
Geographical location, climate setting, lithology affected and dimensions (Heim ratio vs. volume) of the OMIV sites

 

In order to construct harmonized datasets with long and continuous records (displacement/geodesy, seismology, meteorology, hydro-geochemistry), OMIV has initiated, in 2007, the federation of research institutes and State authority bodies engaged in landslide research and monitoring initiatives.