Long-term irrigation as an earthflow trigger in Chenque Malal, Northern Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

Because of their social, ecological, and economic impacts, landslides are an issue of global concern. Episodes occurring worldwide have been associated with natural and human causes, although the latter have been poorly explored. Despite recent scientific insight into intensive irrigation as a cause, research remains scarce. This paper focuses on determining the anthropogenic influence on the triggering of earth flows by long-term intensive irrigation, based on temporal and geospatial information. This analysis covers a sector of Northern Patagonia in Argentina, an area of transhumant pastoralism. Our results show that excessive water input creates favorable conditions for the triggering and evolution of earth flows in the region, even under water deficit conditions. As a result, on 22 September 2020, a collapse was recorded which mobilized ~19,000 m³ of earth debris along 360 m and produced economic losses estimated at 168,000 USD. Other landslides are expected to occur in the area if irrigation amounts remain at the same level.