Spatial and temporal analysis of mass movement using dendrochronology

Abstract

Tree growth and inclination on sloping land is affected by mass movement. Suitable analysis of tree growth and tree form can therefore provide considerable information on mass movement activity.

This paper reports a new, automated method for studying the temporal and spatial aspects of mass movement activity. Ringwidth data from only a few cores per tree are required. The method uses filtering techniques and statistical time series analysis.

Preliminary results for two landslides in the Barcelonnette area of the French Alps show a relative stability of movement activity over the last hundred years (no trend) and short periodicity (six to seven year periods) of mass movement activity.

The advantages of the method (over other, mostly visual, methods) are its clearness, flexibility, repeatability and rapidity. However, further testing is needed to examine its reliability.