LANDSLIDES IN WESTERN CANADIAN QUICK CLAYS
In this presentation I give an overview of British Columbia's quick clays and associated landslides, and examine geometric controls on landslide size. This includes a detailed description of a recent landslide near Terrace, BC. The landslide was a composite earth flow - spread that involved 43 ha of material.
I also consider landslides and landscape evolution in two adjacent valleys with different bedrock geology. The Nass valley, in erodible bedrock went through valley incision rapidly and experienced most of its landsliding early in the Holocene. Kitsumkalum Valley's bedrock is more resistant. Its streams are still incising drift, and thus landslides are still occurring.
Finally I examine the effects of paleoclimate, historical climate, and future climate scenarios on temporal landslide distribution in BC's quick clays.