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 Natural
hazards
Many
natural phenomena have a direct impact on our environment.
Some of them (e.g. landslides, earthquakes and floods)
are likely to endanger a big number of persons and to
cause important damages to infrastructures.
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Because of its unique tectonic situation, the Provence-Alpes-Côtes
d'Azur (PACA) region is susceptible to landslides and
earthquakes as well as the tsunamis they can generate.
The collision between the African and Eurasian tectonic
plates slowly compresses the boundary between them,
producing the uplift that has created the Alps.
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This
uplift accompanies a low level of current seismicity,
which nonetheless presents the greatest seismic risk
in France. The steep topography of the Alpine chain
catalyzes precipitation, which can create the risk of
trans-border flooding during severe storms. Rainfall
can also increase the probability of landslides, already
a hazard because of the steep topography. Combined with
the steadily increasing demographic pressure, earthquakes
and landslides elevate the risk to the population and
infrastructure.
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Using the PACA region as a natural laboratory, our scientific
objectives are to investigate the kinematics and mechanics
of several landslides to advance our fundamental understanding
of three types of hazard coupling. One is the link between
severe storm precipitation input to groundwater flow
and landslides, the second is the link between earthquake
strong ground motion and landslides, and the third is
the link between landslide/earthquake and tsunamis.
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Click
to see ACRI-ST studies
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