Case study of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China

Hales, Tristram C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3330-3302, Harvey, Erin L., Dai, Lanxin and Fan, Xuanmei 2026. Case study of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China. Davis, T., Densmore, A. and Fan, X., eds. Geomorphic Impacts of Earthquakes: Post-Seismic Landscape Evolution, Elsevier, pp. 383-412. (10.1016/b978-0-443-40375-0.00002-5)

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Abstract

The Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake occurred along the Beichuan and Pengguan faults on 12 May 2008. Fault segments ruptured with both thrust and right lateral strike-slip motion, with high shaking intensities (Modified Mercalli Intensity XI) that resulted in extensive damage and a high number of fatalities. The Wenchuan earthquake generated the largest earthquake-triggered landslide event of the past 50 years, creating an active and extensive geomorphic cascade. The coincidence of the earthquake and a rapid increase in the frequency and resolution of satellite-derived remote sensing imagery allowed this cascade to be characterised in unprecedented detail. This chapter summarises the geomorphic consequences of the Wenchuan earthquake in the context of four major academic advances. First, the comparable magnitudes of landslide volume and crustal uplift during the Wenchuan earthquake highlight the critical role of coseismic landsliding in the denudation of mountain belts. Second, the extensive nature of the Wenchuan earthquake geomorphic cascade has identified limitations in our understanding of how stochastic elements of the cascade interact, particularly coseismic landsliding, debris-flow generation and fluvial transport. Third, the introduction of unusually large volumes of mobile sediment into Longmen Shan headwater catchments has triggered geomorphic responses not previously documented, most notably large (>106 m3) debris flows. Finally, data collected in the aftermath of the Wenchuan earthquake have demonstrated the importance of coseismic landslides as stores in the short-medium term sequestration of terrestrial carbon.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Physical, Chemical & Environmental Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISBN:	9780443403750
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2026 11:35
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189294

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