What If an Intense Rain Event Should Trigger Diffuse Shallow Landslides in a Small Mediterranean Catchment? Numerical Modeling Through Remote Sensing Techniques

A high-detail numerical model, developed using remote sensing data from the H2020 RECONECT project, reveals that intense rainfall events in small Mediterranean catchments can trigger widespread shallow landslides and debris flows, particularly from man-made terraces. This research highlights the vulnerability of culturally significant sites like Portovenere and Cinque Terre, where such hazards pose risks to buildings, infrastructure, and tourism. The model successfully simulates triggering areas, transport channels, deposition zones, and their interaction with exposed elements, offering a scalable approach to assess risk in similar regions. The findings underscore the need for nature-based solutions to mitigate these hazards, which are increasingly common due to climate change.

Paliaga, G., Ward, S. N., Luino, F., Faccini, F., & Turconi, L. (2024). What If an Intense Rain Event Should Trigger Diffuse Shallow Landslides in a Small Mediterranean Catchment? Numerical Modeling Through Remote Sensing Techniques. Remote Sensing, 16(24), 4658. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16244658