Slope denudation under moderate seismic impact (Tunkin earthquake in 1995 as an example)

Abstract

Quantitative estimation of seismogenic denudation is a relatively new problem, which is on initial stage of its development. It was firstly shown in this work (for the Tonka earthquake, June 30, 1995) that earthquake of moderate intensity (force 6) causes the denudation of the slopes in the vicinity of active faults. Seismo-gravitational processes remove from the surface the layer up to 12-13 mm in thickness. This denudation occurs during few seconds of seimic event, while the same effect due to normal processes would take years.