Study on Spatial Distribution and Key Influencing Factors of Landslides in Three Gorges Reservoir Area

There are many wading landslides in Three Gorges reservoir area, however, the spatial distribution and influencing factors of these landslides are not yet clear. The relevant data of 593 landslides along the Yangtze River from Three Gorges Dam to Jiangjin city were collected in this study. The lithology, slope structure, elevation and slopes angle were selected as the key control factors and reservoir water was selected as inducing factor. The reservoir bank slope on both sides of the Yangtze River was divided into several sections according to different factors. The spatial distribution characteristics and its internal mechanism of landslides were analyzed. The results could be summarized as follows: (1) The macroscopic spatial distribution of landslides presents significant regional differences and zonation characteristics because of the engineering geological properties of different rock groups. (2) It also shows obvious local differences in the left and right sides or the upstream and downstream in the same rock group. This may be related to the slope structure. The density of landslides in the consequent slope is much higher than transverse slope or converse slope. (3) Due to the topographic conditions and the influence of the reservoir water, the elevation of trailing and slopes angle of the landslides are gradually reduced from the head to tail region. Landslides front elevation were mainly focused on 100-175 m. The main inducing factor of landslide deformation was the fluctuation of reservoir water level. The effect was most significant when the water level fluctuated in front and middle of the landslide. The effect of the fluctuation of reservoir water level to landslide decreases gradually with the adjustment of deformation. The research results can facilitate the future prevention and controlling of landslides in Three Gorges reservoir area. © 2020, Editorial Department of Earth Science. All right reserved.