A large-scale obliquely inclined bedding rockslide, activated by a heavy rainstorm, occurred on July 8, 2020, at 7:05 (UTC + 8) in Shiban Village, Songtao Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou Province, China. The loss of life in this event was greatly reduced owing to the local warning system for rainstorm-induced geohazards. To understand the failure characteristics, triggering factors, the genetic mechanism of the landslide, the geomorphological features, geological characteristics, hydrological conditions, and rainfall characteristics were systematically studied by a synthetic approach including field investigations, satellite imagery, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photography, laboratory tests, and rainfall data statistics. The results indicated that the interface between the soft and hard rock, the well-developed joints, and the free face in front of the slope constituted the boundaries of this landslide. The concave topography at the back and southern edge of the landslide, the bare ground, and the cataclastic structure of the rock mass provided favorable conditions for the collection or infiltration of rainwater. The concentrated rainstorm was the direct trigger for the landslide, which led to a rapid inflow and retention of rainfall in the landslide through favorable landform and geological conditions. The groundwater recharge that cannot be drained in time caused the mechanical deterioration of rock mass and induced a rapid increase in pore water pressure in the landslide. Moreover, the water level of the Ganlong River at the toe of the slope also rose rapidly, and the uplift pressure in front of the slope increased accordingly. Under the combined action of these adverse factors, the overall anti-sliding force of the slope was less than the sliding force, finally resulting in the landslide. Remarkably, the local warning system for rainstorm-induced geohazards successfully forecasted the landslide, but the shortcoming is that the forecast time in advance is short. Nevertheless, the prediction has significantly reduced human casualties and provided valuable experience for the prediction of this type of landslide.

选用1962---2017年(10月～次年5月)西南地区(四川、贵州、云南和重庆市)90个地面气象观测台站的逐日降水和日平均气温实测气象要素资料,运用综合气象干旱指数(CI)统计出西南地区累计干旱日数和频次,并分析两者近56 a来的时空变化特征,再挑选其高、低值年进行大气环流形势讨论,最后制作差值图(均为高值年减低值年)与相关场构造的图进行比较.研究结果表明:累计干旱日数和频次均呈逐渐降低的趋势;两者的年代距平在20世纪60年代～ 80年代同为正,而在20世纪90年代同为负,其后21世纪初两者距平则相反;累计干旱日数具有5 a和9a的年际周期变化,12 a的年代际周期,干旱频次具有8a左右的年际周期和20 a的年代际周期;两者均在四川西部地区和云南中北部为大值中心,云南西部、重庆和贵州中东部为小值中心;高、中和低层的环流形势也缺少水汽和系统抬升等配置关系.

The trend, severity, and duration of drought in the eastern fringe of the Tibetan Plateau (EFTP) have been investigated using the Mann-Kendall (M-K) trend test, standardized precipitation index (SPI), and generalized extreme value (GEV), using data obtained from 438 rainfall stations and reanalysis datasets for the period 1961–2014. A recent drought trend is evident from a decrease in rainfall, with this mainly occurring on the eastern slope of the TP (< 3000-m elevation); this is attributed to downward air flows over the eastern slope of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) induced by TP heating. Recent droughts have also been more severe, with these again mostly occurring on the eastern slopes. The duration of drought illustrates that extreme droughts are becoming more frequent. The study also predicted summer precipitation, due to its crucial role in drought research in the EFTP. Results show that the preceding May–June–July (MJJ) averaged column-integrated meridional water vapor transport (MWVT) from the South China Sea (SCS), Philippine Sea, and tropical western Pacific is a vital predictor of summer precipitation in the EFTP. A partial least squares (PLS) regression prediction model is therefore constructed, using the leading PLS components of preceding MJJ-averaged column-integrated MWVT. Compared to the observed summer rainfall, the PLS prediction model performs an excellent reconstructed skill with a correlation of 0.81 (1961–2006) and exhibits a promising forecast skill with a correlation of 0.67 (2007–2014). Results suggest that southerly moisture transport in early summer would help prevent summer drought in the EFTP.

Atmospheric water vapor plays a significant role in the study of climate change and hydrological cycle processes. In order to acquire the accurate distribution of atmospheric water vapor which is varying with time, location, and altitude, it is necessary to monitor it at high spatial and temporal resolution. Unfortunately, it is difficult to map the spatial distribution of atmospheric water vapor due to the lack of meteorological instrumentation at adequate spatial and temporal observation scales. This paper introduces a simplified method to retrieve Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) using the ratio of the apparent reflectance values of the 18th and 19th band of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Compared to the EOS PWV products of the same time and area, the PWV estimated using this simplified method is closer to the radiosonde results which is considered as the true PWV value. Results reveal that this simplified method is applicable over cloud-free atmospheric conditions of the mid-latitude regions.

选用1961-2012年西南地区(四川、贵州、云南和重庆市)90个地面气象观测台站的逐日降水、日平均气温的实测气象要素资料,运用综合气象干旱指数(CI)来统计分析52 a来西南四季的干旱频次和强度的变化情况,挑选出发生频次最高的春季干旱进行其时空变化特征分析.研究得出:春季干旱中3级干旱(中旱)频次偏多和强度偏强;趋势变化方面,春季干旱的频次和强度均为略有下降;年代距平都在20世纪60-80年代的为正,而后为负;频次在1980年前后有明显减少的突变,而强度在1981年前后有明显减弱突变;频次主要在21世纪初之前具有8a的年际周期变化,有明显的缩短趋势,强度主要具有8a的年际周期变化和12a的年代际周期,也均具有明显缩短的趋势;频次和强度指数均在云南中部、贵州东部和四川西北部边缘有3个明显的高值中心,而四川南部和重庆东北部为低值中心.