Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
and topographic maps due to forest cover. A relatively new
technology, LIDAR, is expected to improve identification.
Gardiner, Montana
Figure 8.6 is a photograph of the lower part of a landslide
complex south of Gardiner, Montana. Direction of view in
the photograph is to the south from the townsite. This is an
old landslide, but it well illustrates hummocky terrain
related to landslide deposition. Refer to Figure 8.7, the aerial
photograph, and Figure 8.8, the topographic map.
5.
Figure 8.9 is a vertical aerial photograph of the Green
River Gorge. Mark on this photograph areas that you think,
based on topography, may have landslides. What landslide
characteristics helped you make your identification?
2. Mark on the aerial photograph (Figure 8.7) the area of the
landslide(s). Look for irregular terrain, typified by hummocky
topography.
6.
Figure 8.10 is a topographic map of the Green River area.
Use this map and see if you can find any landslide areas. Are
there any areas that have similar topographic contours to
those shown in Figures 8.4, 8.5, and 8.8? If so, mark them.
3. On the topographic map (Figure 8.8), mark areas of the
landslide(s). Particularly look for areas of highly crenulated
(folded, angular) contours rather than smooth contours.
The 5,400-foot contour south of the town of Gardiner is an
example of a crenulated contour. An example of an area
with smoother contours is the area northwest of the town of
Gardiner.
7.
LIDAR images can show landslides more clearly than
either aerial photographs or topographic maps. LIDAR
allows "virtual deforestation," that is computer processing
that removes trees and lets the ground surface be mapped.
Figure 8.11 is a LIDAR image of the Green River Gorge. Note
that Figure 8.11 covers a larger area than Figure 8.9. Mark on
this image all the landslides you can find. Do you agree or
not that LIDAR allows identification of more landslides than
maps or photographs?
4. What other landslide features identified by Nielson and
Brabb (listed above) are present in this landslide complex?
8.
Use a colored pencil, and transfer these landslides back to
the topographic map (Figure 8.10) and the aerial photograph
(Figure 8.9). How many more landslides could you identify
on LIDAR than on the map? The photograph?
Green River Gorge, Washington
This gorge, southeast of Seattle, has many landslides along
its slopes. They can be hard to identify on aerial photographs
FIGURE 8.6
Gardiner, MT, landslide(s). View to SSW. (Photograph by © Duncan Foley)
