SURFICIAL SLOPE STABILITY USING SATELLITE SOIL MOISTURE AND RAINFALL

For almost all types of slope failure, soil types/geology and soil moisture plays a vital role because water reduces the soil strength and increase the stress. It is difficult to obtain in-situ moisture profiles of the soil layer on regional or global scale. Using AMSR-E and TRMM satellite data, it is possible to estimate antecedent soil moisture condition. This estimated soil moisture, both in unsaturated and saturated layer, can be used for surficial slope stability analyses. To understand the soil moisture, rainfall and landslide relationship, a qualitative comparison of soil moisture derived from AMSR-E, precipitation from TRMM and major landslide events was conducted. Preliminary results show enhanced AMSR-E soil moisture and rainfall prior to major landslide events.