Shallow landslides triggered by consecutive rainfall events at Catanzaro strait (Calabria–Southern Italy)

<p>This paper describes the activities conducted for the development of a thematic map of shallow landslides (and other landforms) resulting from by consecutive rainfall events during the fall-winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 in the Catanzaro Strait (Central Calabria, South Italy). The methodology is based on the interpretation of Google Earth high-resolution satellite images (post-event images are dated 19th March 2010), followed by processing and management of the collected data through a geographic information system.</p> <p>The inventory covers a wide area (692 km²) and includes 3483 shallow landslides and many other geomorphological features (zones of incipient shallow landslides and areas affected by soil erosion) related to the 2008–2010 rainfall events.</p> <p>The map produced may provide useful data to define shallow landslide events, develop landscape evolution models and characterise active geomorphic processes. Furthermore, the map may also be used as a basic tool to produce landslide or erosion susceptibility maps, which can be used for land-use planning strategies and landslide hazard analyses.