Reconstructing the dynamic processes of the Taimali landslide in Taiwan using the waveform inversion method

As a landslide occurs, seismic signals generated by the mass sliding on the slope can be recorded by seismometers nearby. Using waveform inversion techniques, we can explore the dynamic processes (e.g., sliding direction, velocity, and runout distance) of a landslide with the inverted force-time function. In this study, the point force history (PFH) inversion method was applied to the Taimali landslide in Taiwan, which was triggered by a heavy rainstorm in 2009. The inverted force-time function for the landslide revealed the complicated dynamic processes. The time series of velocity indicated three different sliding directions during the landslide. Hence, three propagating stages of the Taimali landslide were determined and were consistent with an investigation using remote sensing images and a digital elevation model of the landslide. In addition, the PFH inversion was implemented using high-quality single-station records and maintained good performance compared with the inversion by multistation records.