Developing conceptual models for the recognition of coseismic landslides hazard for shallow crustal and megathrust earthquakes in different mountain environments – an example from the Chilean Andes

Landslides represent the most frequent geological hazard in mountainous environments. Most notably, landslides are a major source of fatalities and damage related with strong earthquakes. The main aim of this research is to show through three-dimensional engineer-friendly computer drawings, different mountain environments where coseismic landslides could be generated during shallow crustal and megathrust earthquakes in the Andes of Central Chile. From the comparison of local earthquake-induced landslide inventories in Chile, from the Mw 6.2, shallow crustal Aysén earthquake in 2007 (45.3° S) and the Mw 8.8, megathrust Maule earthquake in 2010 (32.5°S - 38.5°S), with others from abroad, as well as analysis of large, prehistoric landslide inventories proposed as likely induced by seismic activity, we have determined topographic, geomorphological, geological and seismic controlling factors in the occurrence of earthquake-triggered landslides. With these results, we have built four representative geomodels of coseismic landslide geomorphological environments in the Andes of central Chile. Each one represents the possible landslide types to be generated by a shallow crustal earthquake versus those likely to be generated by an megathrust earthquake. Additionally, the associated hazards and suggested mitigation measures are expressed in each scenario. These geomodels are a powerful tool for earthquake-induced landslide hazard assessment.