ISTerre - Institut des Sciences de la Terre

Professional backgrounds

Pascal LACROIX — 2020-07-10T13:09:52Z

Professional Background

– 2004, Master's degree - Standford Univ. (U.S.)
Radar Interferommetry of RadarSat-1 applied to the Mauna Loa volcano study
– 2004 - 2007, PhD - LEGOS (Toulouse, France)
Satellite altimetry applied to the study of the antarctic firn
– 2007 - 2008, Post-doctoral position - Univ. Tasmania (Australia)
Dynamics of the Mertz glacier (Antarctica)
– 2008 - 2010, Post-doctoral position - LGIT (Grenoble, France)
Dynamics and seismic monitoring of gravitational instabilities
– 2011 - 2013, Post-doctoral position - INGEMMET (Lima, Peru)
Study of the interaction earthquakes-landslides in Peru
– 2013 - present, Chargé de Recherche IRD - ISTerre (Grenoble, France)

Teaching

Pascal LACROIX — 2020-07-10T13:08:32Z

Teaching

Below are the courses I am involved in, on a regularly bases, either in Peru or at the University Grenoble Alpes (France) :
– Remote sensing (Bachelor level, 10h, in spanish)
– DEM generation and ground deformation measurements from High Resolution optical sensors (Master level, 10h, french, spanish and english)
– Seismic monitoring of landslides (Master level, 4h, in spanish)
– Remote sensing of landslides (Master level, 10h, in english)

Students Projects
– S. Zerathe (2014-2017) : Post-doctoral fellow Large Andean Movements in the Andes
– R. Heijenk (2015) : Master2 student Characteristics of the kinematics and geomorphology of slow-moving landslides in the Colca valley, South-Peru
– N. Bontemps (2016) : Master2 student Inversion of time-series deformation from optical satellite images
– M. Desrues (2016) : Master2 student Monitoring the Chambon landslide from satellite imagery
– N. Bontemps (2016-2019) : PhD student Landslides triggering in the Colca valley, Peru using satellite optical imagery and in situ monitoring
– M.Q. Pham (2016-2018) : Post-doctoral fellow Detection of slow-moving landslides in time-series of optical satellite images
– R. Raj Bhattarai (2017) : Master2 student Seismic Responses of the Basin-fill Sediments in the Kathmandu Valley (Nepal)
– R. Machacca (2017) : Master2 student Towards forecasting explosive volcanic eruptions using ambient noise correlation : Ubinas volcano Peru
– T. Gavillon (2018) : Master2 student Study of rock glaciers in the French Alps from very high resolution images of Pléiades
– A. Cheaib (2018-2021) : PhD student Slow-moving landslide detection in Lebanon and Iran from remote sensing.
– G. Araujo (2019) : Master2 student Landslide detection and characterization in the Colca valley, Peru, using time-series of satellite DEMS.
– C. Bouchant (2020) : Master2 student Slow-moving landslide kinematics during the Gorkha/Dolakha earthquake sequence, Nepal, 2015.
– A. Bounassif (2020-2023) : PhD student Strong seismic ground motions in mountainous areas and induced landslides.
– A. Aspaas (2021-2026) : PhD student, Physics of transient creep burst in landslides, co-advising with Univ. Oslo.
– B. Dini (2021-2023), Post-doctoral fellow Detecting precursors of landslide failures from space
– T. Juillet (2021-2022), Master2 student Automation of landslide monitoring from Sentinel-2 data
– D. Cusicanqui (2022-2026), Post-doctoral fellow Detecting slow-moving instabilities from space
– M. Hugonnin (2023), Master1 student Modélisation hydrogéologique du site irrigué de Siguas, Pérou
– E. Kassian (2024), Master2 student Modélisation hydrogéologique du site irrigué de Siguas , Pérou
– Y. Movchan (2024), Master1 student Détection de mouvements de terrain lents sous forêt par corrélation d'images Lidar
– L. Maury (2024-2027), PhD student Large slope instabilities in Mustang, Nepal
– J. Huanca (2025), Master 2 student Monitoreo del deslizamiento de Pie de la Cuesta con imagenes satelitales Planetscope
– K. Dhenin (2026), Master 1 student Industrialisation du code de séries temporelles de déplacement par satellite Planetscope

Main Projects

Pascal LACROIX — 2020-07-10T13:07:05Z

Main projects

– In situ monitoring of slow-moving landslides in Peru
Link
Funded, by CNES, ESA, LabexOSUG@2020, SEG, IRD

– Satellite detection and monitoring of slow-moving landslides in Peru and Nepal
Funded, by CNES, ESA, IRD

– Combined effect of earthquake and rainfall on the forcings of landslides

– Detecting landslide precursors from space
Funded by CNES

– Seismic monitoring of rockfalls and avalanches
Funded by PARN, Petzl fondation

Outreach

Pascal LACROIX — 2020-07-10T13:02:49Z

Outreach

– A study in JGR detects and analyzes the causes of creep bursts, measured in inclinometer data at the level of the shear zone. A highlight in EOS summarizes nicely the findings link

– A technical report realized by a panel of interdisciplinary researchers evaluated the caused of the disaster of the La Berarde village in June 2024, caused by a combination of precipitation, snow-melt and glacial-lake outburst flood link

– A paper in Science analyzes the cause, processes and consequences of the large Chamoli rock-ice avalanche, that occured in India in February 2021. As a part of the team of scientists, I focused my attention on the analysis of the seismic signal generated by this flow, recorded by seismometers 180 km far from the avalanche. Read the story (in french) in IRD Le Mag or the interview of Lacroix in LaCroix

– A report focus on the rockfall hazards in the Mt Blanc main route (couloir du Goûter), based on two years of continuous seismic monitoring of rockfalls durng the summer season. Read (in French) and see the video made by the Petzl fondation

– A paper in EOS focus on the interest of spy satellites for studying changes of the earth surface, in particular slow-moving landslides. Read

– We analyzed the mechanisms at the origin of the combined effect rainfall/earthquake on the landslide dynamics thanks to 3 years of continuous measurements of bulk damage and displacement on the Maca slow-moving landslide (Peru). Read the Nature communication paper or the story on research outreach magazine, or in french on the CNES website

– We monitored and analyzed the mechanisms of mass-movement triggered by irrigation in a peruvian desert. Read the Nature Geosciences paper or the story in IRD Mag or Eos or on the landslideblog.

– A paper in EARTH magazine describes our researches realized on the Maca landslide in Peru : Read more.

– A paper in Nature, focusing on the Maca landslide in Peru, discuss the importance of understanding slow-moving landslides. Read more.

– A GPS installed on the Maca landslide (Peru) recorded the time-series of a slow-moving landslide accelerated by an earthquake. These data show the mechanical analogy between landslides and tectonic faults. Read more.

– The bi-frequency radar altimeter of Envisat is able to detect the crevasses on glaciers from space. Read more

Publications

Pascal LACROIX — 2013-03-01T14:35:50Z

ORCID profile
ResearchGate profile
Google scholar profile

List of publications

Lacroix P., Measurements of Mauna Loa (Hawaii) volcano deformation using InSAR of Radarsat (2004), master thesis, Université Paris VII, Stanford University, soutenue le 17 septembre 2004, 50 p.
Legrésy B., P. Lacroix, F. Rémy Individual echoes over the Antarctic ice-sheet, RAIES-LEGOS contribution to the Individual Echoes studies (2006), 11 p.
Lacroix P., Apport de l'altimétrie radar spatiale à l'étude de la neige de la calotte polaire Antarctique (2007), PHd thesis, University Toulouse III- Paul Sabatier, soutenue le 4 octobre 2007, 143 p. link
Lacroix P., B. Legrésy, R. Coleman, M. Dechambre, F. Rémy (2007), Dual-frequency altimeter signal from Envisat on the Amery ice-shelf, Remote Sensing of Environment, 109, 285-294. link
Lacroix P., M. Dechambre, B. Legrésy, F. Blarel, F. Rémy (2008), On the use of the dual-frequency altimeter of ENVISAT to determine snowpack properties of the Antarctic ice-sheet, Remote Sensing of Environment, 112, 1712-1729. link
Lacroix P., B. Legrésy, K. Langley, S.E. Hamran, J. Kohler, S. Roques, M. Dechambre, F. Rémy (2008), Instruments and Methods: In situ measurements of snow surface roughness using a laser profiler device, Journal of Glaciology, 54 (187), 753-762. link
Langley K., P. Lacroix, S.E. Hamran, O. Brandt (2009), Sources of backscatter at 5.3 GHz from a superimposed ice and firn area revealed by multi-frequency GPR and cores, Journal of Glaciology, 55 (190), 373-383. link
Lacroix P., F. Rémy, B. Legrésy, F. Blarel, G. Picard, L. Brucker (2009), Rapid change of the snow surfaces properties at Vostok, East Antarctica, revealed by altimetry and radiometry, Remote Sensing Environment, 113, 2633–2641. link
Lacroix P., A. Helmstetter (2011), Location of seismic signals associated with micro-earthquakes and rockfalls on the Séchilienne rockslide, French Alps, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am, 101 (1), 341-353. link
Lacroix P., L. Tatard, J. Mariňo, B. Zavala, F. Bondoux, B. Guillier (2011), Initiacion de las mediciones geodesicas y geofisicas sobre el deslizamiento de Maca, 7p.
Lacroix P., J.R. Grasso, J. Roulle, G. Giraud, D. Goetz, S. Morin, A. Helmstetter (2012), Monitoring of snow avalanches using a seismic array: location, speed estimation and relationships to meteorological variables , J. Geophy. Res. - Earth Surface, 117, F01034, doi:10.1029/2011JF002106.link
Lacroix P., D. Amitrano (2013), Long term dynamic of rock slides and damage propagation inferred from mechanical modelling, J. Geophy. Res. - Earth Surface. doi: 10.1002/2013JF002766. link
Lacroix P., B. Zavala, E. Berthier, L. Audin (2013), Semi-automatic method for landslide inventory in panchromatic SPOT5 images: application to the earthquake triggered landslide of Pisco, Peru, 2007, Mw8.0, Remote Sensing, 5(6), 2590-2616; doi:10.3390/rs5062590. link
Zavala B., J. Mariňo, Lacroix P., E. Taipe, C. Benavente et al. (2013), Evaluacion de la seguridad fisica del distrito de Maca, Informe tecnico N° A6628, INGEMMET, Abril 2013, 160 p.
Lacroix P., H. Perfettini, E. Taipe, B. Guillier (2014), Co- and postseismic motion of a landslide; observations, modeling and analogy with tectonic faults, Geoph Res. Lett., doi: 10.1002/2014GL061170. link
Lacroix P., J.R. Grasso (2014), Landslides triggered by the Pisco-Ica, M= 8, 6.9, 6.3, earthquake sequence, ISIS report, CNES, 7 p. link
Lacroix P., E. Berthier, E. Taipe (2015), Earthquake driven acceleration of slow-moving landslides in the Colca valley, Peru, detected from Pléiades images, Rem. Sens. Env, 165 (148-158).link
Lescarmontier L., B. Legrésy, N.W. Young , R. Coleman, L.Testut, C. Mayet, P. Lacroix (2015), Rifting processes on the Mertz Glacier, J. of Glaciology. link
Zerathe, S., Lacroix, P., Jongmans, D., Marino, J., Taipe, E., Wathelet, M., et al. (2016), Morphology, structure and kinematics of a rainfall controlled slow‐moving Andean landslide, Peru. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. link
Lacroix P. (2016), Landslides triggered by the Gorkha earthquake in the Langtang valley, volumes and initiation processes. Earth, Planets and Space, 68(1), 1-10.
link
Bievre, G., Lacroix P., L. Oxarango, D. Goutaland, G. Monnot, Y. Fargier (2017), Integration of geotechnical and geophysical techniques for the
characterization of a small earth-filled canal dyke and the
localization of water leakage, Journal of Applied Geophysics, 139, 1–15]
N. Bontemps, P. Lacroix, M.-P. Doin (2018), Inversion of deformation fields time-series from optical images, and application to the long term kinematics of slow-moving landslides in Peru, Remote Sensing of Environment, 210, 144-158.[link->https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425718300282" class="spip_out" rel="external">link
P. Lacroix, G. Bievre, E. Pathier, U. Kniess, D. Jongmans (2018), Use of Sentinel-2 images for the detection of precursory motions before landslide failures, Remote Sensing of Environment, 215, 507-516.
link
Bontemps, N., P. Lacroix, Doin, M. P. (2018). Inversion of deformation fields time-series from optical images, and application to the long term kinematics of slow-moving landslides in Peru. Remote Sensing of Environment, 210, 144-158.
link
M. Q. Pham, P. Lacroix, M.P. Doin (2018), Sparsity optimization method for slow-moving landslides detection in satellite image time-series, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. link
Machacca, R., Lesage, P., Larose, E., Lacroix, P., & Anccasi, R. (2019). Detection of pre-eruptive seismic velocity variations at an andesitic volcano using ambient noise correlation on 3-component stations: Ubinas volcano, Peru, 2014. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. link
Lacroix, P., Araujo, G., Hollingsworth, J., & Taipe, E. (2019). Self entrainment motion of a slow‐moving landslide inferred from Landsat‐8 time‐series. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. link
Desrues, M., P. Lacroix, & O. Brenguier. (2019) Satellite Pre-Failure Detection and In Situ Monitoring of the Landslide of the Tunnel du Chambon, French Alps. Geosciences 9.7, 313. link
Deschamps-Berger, C., S. Gascoin, E. Berthier, P. Lacroix, L. Polidori, (2019). La Terre en 4D : apport des séries temporelles de modèles numériques d'élévation par photogrammétrie spatiale pour l'étude de la surface terrestre, RFPT, 221, 23-31 link
Lacroix, P., Dehecq, A. & Taipe, E. Irrigation-triggered landslides in a Peruvian desert caused by modern intensive farming. Nature Geosciences. 13, 56–60 (2020) doi:10.1038/s41561-019-0500-x. link
Bontemps N., P., Lacroix, E. Larose, E. Taipe & J. Jara. Rain and small earthquakes maintain a slow-moving landslide in a persistent critical state. Nature Communications. 11, 780 (2020) link
Lacroix P., A. Handwerger, G. Bièvre. Life and death of slow-moving landslides, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. (2020) link
Mourey J., P. Lacroix, P.-A. Duvillard, G. Marsy, M. Marser, E. Malet, L. Ravanel, O. Moret, Déstabilisations rocheuses dans le Grand Couloir de l'aiguille du Goûter, Petzl Fondation Report, 32 p, (2020). link
Fiolleau, S., Jongmans, D., Bièvre, G., Chambon, G., Lacroix, P., Helmstetter, A., ... & Demierre, M. (2021). Multi-method investigation of mass transfer mechanisms in a retrogressive clayey landslide (Harmalière, French Alps). Landslides, 1-20. link
Shugar, D. H., Jacquemart, M., Shean, D., Bhushan, S., Upadhyay, K., Sattar, A., ... Lacroix P.... & Westoby, M. J. (2021). A massive rock and ice avalanche caused the 2021 disaster at Chamoli, Indian Himalaya. Science. link
Maharjan S., Gnyawali K. R., Tannant D. D., Xu C., Lacroix P. (2021). Rapid Terrain Assessment for Earthquake-Triggered Landslide Susceptibility With High-Resolution DEM and Critical Acceleration, Frontiers in Earth Science, 9 link
Cheaib, A., P. Lacroix, S. Zerathe, D. Jongmans , N. Ajorlou, M.-P. Doin, J. Hollingsworth, and C. Abdallah (2022), Landslides induced by the 2017 Mw7.3 Sarpol-Zahab earthquake (Iran), Landslides, link
Mourey, J., P. Lacroix, P.-A. Duvillard, G. Marsy, M. Marcer, L. Ravanel, and E. Malet (2022), Rockfall and vulnerability of mountaineers on the west face of the Aiguille du Goûter (classic route up Mont Blanc, France), an interdisciplinary study, Natural Hazard and Earth Science System, 22, 445–460, link
Provost, F., D. Michea, J.-P. Malet, E. Boissier, E. Pointal, A. Stumpf, F. Pacini, M.-P. Doin, P. Lacroix, P. Bally (2022), Terrain deformation measurements from optical satellite imagery: the MPIC-OPT processing services for geohazards monitoring, Remote Sensing of Environment, link
Lacroix, P., T. Gavillon, C. Bouchant, J. Lavé , J.-L. Mugnier, S. Dhungel, and F. Vernier (2022), SAR and optical images correlation illuminates post-seismic landslide motion after the Mw7.8 Gorkha earthquake (Nepal), Scientific Reports, link
Lacroix P., B. Dini, A. Cheaib (2022), Measuring Kinematics of Slow-Moving Landslides from Satellite Images, in ISTE Book "Displacement Measurement from Remote Sensing Images" Ed. E. Trouvé & O. Cavalié, link
Lacroix P., J. M. C. Belart, E. Berthier, Thorsteinn Saemundsson, K. Jonsdottir (2022), Mechanisms of Landslide Destabilization Induced by Glacier-Retreat on Tungnakvíslarjökull Area, Iceland, Geoph. Res. Lett., link
Iskandar, R., Al Tfaily, B., Cornou, C., P.Y. Bard, B. Guillier, J. Harb, P. Lacroix et al. Estimating urban seismic damages and debris from building-level simulations: application to the city of Beirut, Lebanon. Bull Earthquake Eng 21, 5949–5990 (2023), link
Lacroix P., J. Huanca, L. Albinez, E. Taipe, (2023), Precursory Motion and Time‐Of‐Failure Prediction of the Achoma Landslide, Peru, From High Frequency PlanetScope Satellites, Geoph. Res. Lett., link
Lacroix, P., V. Pinel, et al. (2023), MOOC Remote-Sensing of Natural Hazards (ORISAT), FunMOOC, link
Aspaas, A., Lacroix, P., Sena, C., Kristensen, L., Langet, N., & Renard, F. (2024). Creep bursts on the Åknes landslide, Norway: Detection, characterization and possible mechanisms. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 129(12), e2024JF007733., link and highlights in EOS link
Blanc A., et al., Rétro-analyse de la crue du torrent des Etançons du 21 juin 2024, (2024), RTM Alpes du Nord, link
Bou Nassif, A., Maufroy, E., Lacroix, P., Chaljub, E., Causse, M., & Bard, P. Y. (2025). The i-FSC proxy for predicting inter-event and spatial variation of topographic site effects. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 1-22. link
Cusicanqui,D., P. Lacroix, X. Bodin, B.A. Robson, A. Kääb, S. MacDonell (2025). Detection and reconstruction of rock glacier kinematics over 24 years (2000–2024) from Landsat imagery
The Cryosphere 19 (7), 2559-2581 link
Handwerger, A.L., P. Lacroix, A.F. Bell, A.M. Booth, M.-H. Huang, S.M. Mudd, R. Bürgmann, E.J. Fielding (2025). Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing Captures Geometry and Slow-to-Fast Sliding Transition of the 2017 Mud Creek landslide. Scientific Reports link
Chen F, Yu B, Guo H, Lacroix P., Bontemps N, Qi S, Haritashya UK, Kargel JS, Huang N, Wang L. Frequent weak seismic shakings affect landslide occurrence and threaten 20% of Nepal's population (2025). Sci Bull (Beijing). Dec 31:S2095-9273(25)01334-9. link
Dini, B., Lacroix, P., and Doin, M.-P. (2026), Beyond and beneath displacement time series: towards InSAR-based early warnings and deformation analysis of the Achoma landslide, Peru, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 863–879, link
Cusicanqui, D., Loarte, E., Gómez, W., Villafane, H., Cook, K. L., Piton, G., ... & Lacroix, P. (2026). Small event, big impact: insights from Vallunaraju cascade event on April 28, 2025. npj Natural Hazards, link.

CONFERENCES

Oral Presentations

2005, Lacroix P. , M. Dechambre, F. Rémy, Simulation de la rétrodiffusion de la calotte polaire Antarctique observée par un altimètre radar, Journées scientifiques du CNFRS-URSI, 2005, Paris.
2005, Lacroix P., M. Dechambre, F. Rémy, Revealing stratification properties in the Antarctica ice cap using radar altimeter measurements, 31st ISRSE Symposium 2005, St Petersbourg.
2006, Lacroix P., B. Legrésy, R. Coleman, F. Rémy, Altimeter as a sounding radar over the Amery ice-shelf, 15 years of radar altimetry, 2006, Venice.
2006, Lacroix P., M. Dechambre, B. Legrésy, F. Rémy, Stratification et propriétés de la neige de la calotte
polaire Antarctique, Journées jeunes chercheurs du CNES, 2006, Toulouse.
2006, Lacroix P., B. Legrésy, M. Dechambre, F. Rémy, Observation of Antarctic snow from satellite altimeters, Univ. Oslo, 2006, Oslo.
2007, Parouty S., B. Legrésy, P. Lacroix , F. Rémy, Potential of dual frequency altimeter signal to survey snow accumulation over Antarctica, IUGG 2007, Perrugia.
2007, Legrésy B., F. Rémy, P. Lacroix , F. Blarel, L. Testut, Precise Radar altimetry and the mass balance of Greenland and Antarctic Ice sheets, Envisat Symposium 2007, Montreux.
2007, Lacroix P., B. Legrésy, M. Dechambre, F. Rémy, Effects of snow properties on the dual-frequency radar altimeter signal of ENVISAT over the Antarctic ice-sheet, Envisat Symposium 2007, Montreux.
2007, Lacroix P., B. Legrésy, Permanent GPS installation over the Mertz glacier, Univ. Tasmania, 2007, Hobart.
2008, Parouty S., B. Legrésy, P. Lacroix, F. Rémy, Liens entre variations temporelles des paramètres de forme d'onde altimétrique et amplitude du vent sur la calotte polaire Antarctique, 5ièmes JS CNFRA 2008, Paris.
2008, Lacroix P., L. Testut, B. Legrésy, Installation de GPS permanents sur la langue de glace du glacier Mertz (Terre Adélie), OMP, 2008, Toulouse.
2009, Helmstetter A., P. Lacroix, S. Garambois, Seismic monitoring of Séchilienne rockslide, GFF2 2009, Erice.
2009, Lacroix P., F. Blarel, F. Rémy, B. Legrésy, G. Picard, L. Brucker, Rapid change of the snow surface surfaces properties at Vostok, East Antarctica, revealed by altimetry and radiometry, MOCA 2009, Montréal.
2009, Lacroix P., A. Helmstetter, S. Garambois, J. R. Grasso, Localisation des sources sismiques sur le glissement de terrain de Séchilienne, GdR TransNat 2009, Roscoff.
2009, Lacroix P., L. Testut, B. Legrésy, Etude de la neige de la calotte polaire antarctique par altimétrie radar, LGGE, 2009, Grenoble.
2010, A. Helmstetter, S. Garambois, P. Lacroix, Seismic monitoring of Séchilienne Rockslide (French Alps): micro-seismicity, rockfalls, and triggering by rainfall, Congress on physico chemical processes in seismic faults, Nov 2010, Invited presentation, Padoue.
2010, Lacroix P., D. Amitrano, Modélisation de l'endommagement d'un massif, Journées de travail ANR TRIGGERLAND, 2010, LGIT, Grenoble.
2010, Lacroix P., J.R. Grasso, A. Helmstetter, J. Roulle, G. Giraud, D. Goetz, S. Morin, Ecoute sismique des avalanches, Journées scientifiques du PGRN, decembre 2010, Grenoble.
2011, Lacroix P., D. Amitrano, Modeling the long term dynamic and damage of large rockslides, EGU 2011, Vienna.
2011, Lacroix P., Monitoreo geofisico y teledeteccion como herramientas para el estudio de los mecanismos de ruptura de los deslizamientos, INGEMMET, 2011, Lima.
2012, Lacroix P., Processus de déformation et déclenchement des instabilités gravitaires: apports de l'écoute sismique et de la télédétection, ISTerre, avr. 2012, Grenoble.
2012, Lacroix P., Processus de déformation et déclenchement des instabilités gravitaires: apports de l'écoute sismique et de la télédétection, GeoAzur, avr. 2012, Nice.
2012, Lacroix P., J. Marino, E. Taipe, M. Wathelet, L. Tatard, B. Guillier, F. Bondoux, B. Zavala, P. Valderrama, L. Fidel, J.-C. Gomez, E. Norabuena, Caracterizacion de los procesos sismicos y gravitacional sobre el deslizamiento de Maca (Colca), Congreso de Geologia Peruano, Sept 2012, Lima.
2012, Lacroix P., Estudio del interacion sismo-movimiento de masa en el Peru, INGEMMET, dec 2012, Lima.
2012, Lacroix P., Estudio del interacion sismo-movimiento de masa en el Peru, IGP, dec 2012, Lima.
2013, Lacroix P., Processus de déformation et déclenchement des instabilités gravitaires, GET, jan 2013, Toulouse.
2014, Lacroix P., E. Taipe, S. Zerathe, B. Guillier et al., Monitoreo GPS y satelital del deslizamiento de Maca (Colca), Congreso de Geologia Peruano, Oct 2014, Lima
2014, Lacroix P., R. Heijenk, L. Husson, E. Berthier, Sources d'incertitudes dans les MNT Pléiades,des cas d'étude au Pérou et en Indonésie, IPGP, Nov 2014, Paris.
2014, Amitrano, D. P. Lacroix, Modelling long term damage in rock slopes and impact of deglaciation, AGU Fall Meeting, invited pres., dec 2014, San Francisco.
2015, Lacroix P., H. Perfettini, E. Berthier, E Taipe, B. Guillier, Reactivation of slow-moving landslides by earthquakes, kinematics measurements and mechanical implications, Geophysical research abstracts, vol. 17, EGU2015-9083
2015, Zerathe S., L. Audin, C. Benavente, R. Braucher, P-H. Blard, D. Bourlès, J. Carcaillet, F. Delgado, P. Lacroix, P. Valderrama, Detailed chronology of a giant Pleistocene rock-avalanche sequence in the hyperarid southern Peru revealed by jointly applied 10Be and 3He cosmic ray exposure dating: The Study case of the Cerro Caquilluco landslide complex, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 17, EGU2015-11399-1
2015, Valentin J., F. Donze, D. Jongmans, P. Lacroix, O. Brenguier, L. Baillet, A. Lescurier, S. Yvart, E. Larose, Constraining the DEM and the kinematics of a slope in the Maurienne Valley (French Alps) from remote and ground optical techniques, JAG, sept 2015, Caen.
2015, Lacroix P., E. Berthier, DEM generation from high resolution optical satellites: quality and applications to landslide and glacier surveys, MDIS, Oct 2015, Autrans, invited speaker
2017, M. Desrues, P. Lacroix, O. Brenguier, Apport de la photogrammétrie et de la télédétection aux suivis des aléas mouvement de terrain, colloque de la SFPT, Photogrammétrie et télédétection : vers la convergence, Mar 2017, ENSG, Paris.
2017, Lacroix P., S. Zerathe, E. Maufroy, New perspectives on landslides and seismic risk studies from very high resolution DEMs, CNES workshop on 3D reconstruction, June 2017, invited speaker
2017 Lacroix P., Détecter les signaux satellites précurseurs aux glissements de terrain, colloque "Données satellitaires et leurs usages en montagne", 19 Oct 2017, Grenoble, invited speaker
2017 Brenguier O., M. Desrues, P. Lacroix, Detection et suivi de mouvements gravitaires par photogrammétrie terrestre et satellitaire dans le cas du glissement du Tunnel du Chambon, JAG 2017, Oct 2017, Besançon
2017 Bontemps N., P. Lacroix, M.-P. Doin, Inversion de séries temporelles de champs de déformations à partir d'images satellites optiques, et application à la cinématique long terme de glissements de terrain lents au Pérou, JAG 2017, Oct 2017, Besançon
2017 Lacroix P. , G. Bièvre, D. Jongmans, E. Pathier, Détection des précurseurs de déplacement à la réactivation du glissement de terrain de
l'Harmalière, Trièves, France, par imagerie satellite Sentinel-2, JAG 2017, Oct 2017, Besançon
2017 Bièvre G., A. Helmstetter, P. Lacroix, L. Baillet, M. Langlais, B. Vial, C. Voisin, E. Larose et D. Jongmans, Réactivation du glissement-coulée d'Harmalière (Isère, France), JAG 2017, Oct 2017, Besançon
2018 Larose E., N. Bontemps, A. Guillemot, M. Lebreton, L. Baillet, D. Jongmans, A. Helmstter, and P. Lacroix, A review of methodologies for monitoring active landslides with ambient seismic noise, EGU2018-3320, Vienna
2018 Lacroix P., E. Taipe, G. Araujo, N. Bontemps,
G. Bièvre, D. Jongmans, E. Pathier, Precursory Motions Before Landslide Failures Detected From Sentinel-2 Satellites, EO4Alps Workshop, June 2018, Innsbruck, invited speaker
2018 E. Maufroy, P. Lacroix, E. Chaljub, C. Sira, G. Grelle, L. Bonito, M. Causse,
V. M. Cruz Atienza, F. Hollender, F. Cotton, P.-Y. Bard, Towards Rapid Prediction of Topographic Amplification at Small Scales: Contribution of The Fsc Proxy and Pleiades Terrain Models for the 2016 Amatrice Earthquake (Italy, Mw 6.0), 16ECEE, June 2018, Thessaloniki
Bodin X., S. Ruiz, Lacroix P., Delaloye R., Barboux, C., Strozzi, T., P. Pitte, Spatio-temporal evaluation of rock glacier activity in the semi-arid Andes using optical and radar satellite imagery, EUCOP5, Chamonix,June 2018
2019 X. Bodin, P. Lacroix, C. Barboux, T. Strozzi, T. Echelard, P. Pitte, Spatio-temporal evaluation of rock glacier activity in the semi-arid Andes using optical and radar satellite imagery, SAR & Cryosphere, June 2019, Annecy
2019 Bontemps N., E. Larose , P. Lacroix, J. Jara, E. Taipe, Combined effect of precipitations and earthquakes on slow moving landslide kinematic, a case study with in-situ measurements in the ColcaValley, Peru. EGU2019-8678, Vienna
2019 Lacroix P., T. Gavillon, J.-L. Mugnier, S. Dhungel, Landslides triggered by the Gorkha-Dolakha earthquakes sequence from remote sensing data, Tribhuvan Univ. Kathmandu, Janv 2019. invited speaker
2019 Lacroix P., Earthquake-triggered-landslides: the contribution of slow-moving landslides studies, ENS, Paris, Mai 2019. invited speaker
2019 Lacroix P., A. Dehecq, E. Taipe, G. Araujo, J. Hollingsworth, 40 years of satellite observations of Irrigation-triggered landslides in a Peruvian desert. JAG Nice, October 2019.
2020, P. Lacroix, X. Bodin, Automatic inventory (including velocities) of
rockglaciers from time-series of optical satellite images, Workshop II - IPA Action Group Rock glacier inventories and kinematics, Friburg, February 2020.
2020 Cheaib, A., P. Lacroix, S. Zerathe, D. Jongmans, N/ Ajorlou, M.-P. Doin, J. Hollingsworth, G. Rauscher, and C. Abdallah, Reactivation of giant paleo-rockslides during the Sarpol-Zahab Mw7.3 earthquake, Iran, EGU conference, Vienna May 2020
2020 Dehecq, A., A. Gardner, O. Alexandrov, D. Shean, and P. Lacroix, Multidecadal elevation changes from spy satellite images: application to glaciers and landslides, EGU conference, Vienna May 2020
2020, Bontemps, N., E. Larose, P. Lacroix, J. Jara, and E. Taipe, Rain and small earthquakes maintain a slow-moving landslide in a persistent critical state, EGU conference, Vienna May 2020
2020, S. Fiolleau, Jongmans, D., G. Bièvre, G. Chambon, and P. Lacroix, Combination of high frequency (Sentinel-2) and high resolution (Pléiades) satellite images for the monitoring of clayey landslide reactivations, application to the Harmalière landslide (French Alps), EGU conference, Vienna May 2020
2021, Michea, D., Provost, F., Malet, J-P., Doin, M.-P., Lacroix, P., Dehecq, A., ... & Bally, P., The Multi-Pairwise Image Correlation (MPIC) processing chain, an end-to-end online service for ice motion monitoring using optical imagery, EGU General Assembly, Apr 202, Vienna
2021, Lacroix, P., Life and death of slow-moving landslides, Oslo University, January 2021, invited speaker
2021, Lacroix, P., Post-seismic motion of landslides: friction, damage, and fluids, EarthFlows June Meeting 2021, Oslo, invited speaker
2021, Bou Nassif, A., E. Maufroy, P. Lacroix, E. Chaljub, M. Causse, P.-Y. Bard, The role of seismic illumination in the estimation of the near-field topographic site effects, 37th Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Virtual, September 2021.
2021, Lacroix, P., G. Araujo, Evolución y multi-métodos de monitoreo
de deslizamientos deserticos en el Sur del Perú, Arequipa, Semana capitular de ingeniera geologica geofisicas y minas, October 27 2021, Arequipa, invited speaker.
2022, Lacroix, P., Les mouvements de terrain : Vers une alerte précoce par satellite ?, ISTerre-Grenoble, March 2022.
2022, Dini, B., Lacroix, P., M.-P. Doin, InSAR application for the detection of precursors on the Achoma landslide, Peru, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-12583.
2022 A. Bou Nassif, P. Lacroix, E. Maufroy, E. Chaljub, M. Causse, P.-Y. Bard, Déclenchement sismique des glissements de terrains : Rôle de l'effet de site topographique, JAG, Montpellier, Mai 2022
2022 Lacroix P., N. Bontemps, E. Taipe, S. Zerathe, G. Araujo, M.P. Doin, H. Perfettini, E. Larose, M. Wathelet, L. Albinez, J. Huanca, B. Guillier, 10 ans d'instrumentation permanente sur le glissement de terrain de Maca, Pérou, JAG, Montpellier, Mai 2022.
2022 Lacroix P., N. Bontemps, E. Taipe, A. Cheaib, M.P. Doin, H. Perfettini, S. Zerathe, E. Larose, J. Lavé, S. Dhungel, Mechanism of post-seismic landslide motion, Workshop on Mecanics and Geosciences, Paris, May 2022
2024 P. Lacroix, E. Berthier, F. Provost, Convener de la session sur les « Gravitational Motion, including Glaciers », MDIS, Orléans, 22 Nov 2024
2024 Leder F., … P. Lacroix et al., Recent satellite-based radar and optical monitring of slow-moving landslides in Nepal during monsoon, MDIS, Orléans, 2024
2024 D. Cusicanqui, P. Lacroix, X. Bodin, A. Kääb, B. Aubrey Robson, and S. MacDonell, Detection and reconstruction of rock glaciers kinematic over 24 years (2000–2024) from Landsat imagery, MDIS, Orléans, 2024
2024 F. Provost, B. Rambault, S. Gascoin, P. Lacroix, K. Cook, J.-P. Malet, Glacier Avalanche, Flash Flood and landslide reactivation : The case of Joshimath town (Uttarakhand, India), MDIS, Orléans, 2024
2024 Raimbault B., S. Giffard-Roisin, P. Lacroix, S. Zerathe, D. Cusicanqui, F. Delgado, M.-P. Doin, Detecting slow-moving landslides in South America using Convolutional Neural Networks and INSAR, MDIS, Orléans.
2024 Leder, F., Daout, S., Lavé, J., d'Oreye de Lantremange, N., and Lacroix, P.: Recent satellite-based radar and optical monitoring of the activity of a slow-moving landslide in Nepal during monsoon , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-10697
2024 Bou Nassif, A., Maufroy, E., Lacroix, P., Chaljub, E., Causse, M., Marc, O., and Bard, P.-Y.: The i-FSC proxy for predicting near-source topographic site effects and studying earthquake-induced landslide distributions, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12861
2024 P. Lacroix, N. Bontemps, E. Taipe, A. Cheaib, M.P. Doin, H. Perfettini, S. Zerathe, E. Larose, J. Lavé, S. Dhungel, Mécanismes des mouvements de terrain déclenchés par les séismes, Frensz conference, Jul 2024, Barcelonette
2024 Raimbault B., S. Giffard-Roisin, P. Lacroix, S. Zerathe, D. Cusicanqui, F. Delgado, M.-P. Doin, Detecting slow-moving landslides in South America using Convolutional Neural Networks and INSAR, Frensz, Barcelonette.
2024 G. Broust, S. Buisson, M. Couble, E. Eymard, J. Grosso, F. Konarski, P. Lacroix, I. Lecomte, O. Prache, P. Roigt, L. Vicier, J. Vicier and A. Dufour, small mid-mountain ski resorts facing climate change: the testimony of Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, Chartreuse, France, ISSW, September 2024, Tromso.
2024 Handwerger A., P. Lacroix, et al. Satellite- and airborne-based SAR and optical data reveal the stable-to-unstable sliding transition of the 2017 Mud Creek Landslide, AGU 2024, NH32B-03
2025 P. Lacroix, E. Taipe, L. Albinez, G. Bièvre, L. Pousse, and H. Sanchez, Mechanisms of co- and post-seismic landslides in the Colca valley, Peru, following M5+ earthquakes, EGU General Assembly, Vienna , May 2025, invited presentation
2025 L. Maury, K. Cook, B. R. Adhikari, and P. Lacroix, Deep Seating Slow-moving Landslides in Upper Mustang: Mapping, Kinematics and Triggering Factors, EGU General Assembly, Vienna , May 2025
2025 D. Cusicanqui, P. Lacroix, X. Bodin, B. Aubrey Robson, A. Kääb, and S. MacDonell, Monitoring rock-glacier kinematics with medium-resolution Landsat imagery: Insights from the Semi-arid Andes, EGU General Assembly, Vienna , May 2025
2025 L. Maury, K. Cook , B. R. Adhikari , P. Lacroix, Détection, caractérisation et facteurs
déclenchants des glissements de terrain lents du Mustang Supérieur, Népal, JAG, Aosta Sept 2025
2025 A. Zimmer, Y. Movchan, P. Lacroix, D. Cusicanqui, G. Bièvre, B. Colas, Y. Thiery, Tracking Rock Slope Deformations and Deep Seated Landslides activity by DIC: contributions of VHR LiDAR for monitoring unstable slopes, JAG, Aosta Sept 2025
2026 J.-P. Malet, S. Bernardie, C. Bertrand, M. Gasc, S. Gautier-Raux, C. Hibert, P. Lacroix, T. Lebourg, M. Radiguet, and M. Vidal, Acquiring, sharing and exploiting long-period and multi-parametric instrumental data for landslide science: the French EPOS-France vision, and its implementation at the European level, EGU General Assembly, Vienna, May 2026
2026 Jaspard, M., Lave, J., Sitaula, B., Barrière, J., Gajurel, A., and Paudel, T. and the Team Slide: Multi-instrument geophysical monitoring of a km-scale slow-moving landslide in Nepal: Technical insights and preliminary results, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10241

Poster Presentations

2006, Lacroix P., B. Legrésy, M. Dechambre, F. Rémy, Validation of altimeter measurements over ice, 15 years of radar altimetry 2006, poster presentation, Venice.
2007, Lacroix P., M. Dechambre, F. Rémy, Estimating the snow properties of the Antarctic ice-sheet from the dual-frequency altimeter of ENVISAT, IUGG 2007, Perrugia.
2008, Legrésy B., L. Lescarmontier, R. Coleman, P. Lacroix, L.Testut, N. W. Young, F. Rémy, Tides, Rifting and Calving of the Mertz Glacier, SCAR 2008, St Petersburg.
2009, Legrésy B., L. Lescarmontier, R. Coleman, P. Lacroix, L.Testut, N. W. Young and F. Rémy, Tides, Rifting and Calving of the Mertz Glacier, MOCA 2009, Montréal.
2010, Lacroix P., A. Helmstetter, Location of seismic signals associated with micro-earthquakes and rockfalls on the Séchilienne landslide, French Alps, ESC, Sept 2010, Montpellier.
2010, Lacroix P., J.R. Grasso, A. Helmstetter, J. Roulle, Seismic monitoring of snow avalanche : onset, propagation and runout styles, ESC, Sept 2010, Montpellier.
2011, A. Helmstetter, G. Ménard, D. Hantz, P. Lacroix, F. Thouvenot & J.-R. Grasso, Etude multidisciplinaire d'un effondrement dans la carrière de ciment de Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, Journées Aléa Gravitaire, Sept 2011, Strasbourg.
2012, Lacroix P., E. Berthier, B. Zavala, L. Audin, J.R. Grasso, M. Chaljub, Landslides triggered by the Pisco earthquake (Peru, Mw8.0, 2007) :automatic detection of landslides in SPOT5 panchromatic images, and analysis of the distribution patterns, EGU, Avr 2012, Vienna.
2014, Lacroix P., E. Berthier, E. Taipe, Validation of Pleiades products for landslide studies: application to the Maca landslide Peru, Pleiades Days 2014, April 2014, Toulouse.
2015, Valentin J., F. Donze, D. Jongmans, S. Yvart, P. Lacroix, O. Brenguier, L. Baillet, A. Lescurier, N. Muller, E. Larose, constraining the DEM and the kinematics of an unstable slope in the maurienne valley (french alps) from remote and ground optical techniques, geophysical research abstracts, vol. 17, EGU2015-2714, Vienna.
2015, Vilchez M., P. Lacroix, Última reactivacion del movimiento complejo de Ranraccasa-Yaurisque-Paruro-Cusco, Foro Internacional Gestion del riesgo geologico, Oct 2015, Arequipa.
2016 A.-M. Pastier, L. Husson, A. Bezos, K. Pedoja, M. Elliot, A. Hafidz, M. Imran, P. Lacroix, X. Robert, Architecture and morphology of coral reef sequences. Modeling and observations from uplifting islands of SE Sulawesi, Indonesia, Vol. 16, EGU2016-16071, Vienna.
2017, A.-M. Pastier, A. Bezos, L. Husson, K. Pedoja, C. Arias, M.
Elliot, P. Lacroix, A M. Imran, 4D geomorphological evolution of intertropical islands, vol. 19, EGU2017-14087, Vienna.
2017, N. Bontemps, P. Lacroix, M.-P. Doin, Inversion of deformation fields time-series from optical images, application to the long term kinematics of slow-moving landslides, vol. 19, EGU2017-4994, Vienna.
2017, Pham M.-Q. , P. Lacroix, M.-P. Doin, An optimization method for Slow-moving Landslides detection in satellite image time series, JAG 2017, Oct 2017, Besançon
2018, Bhattarai R., P. Huyghe, J. L. Mugnier, B. Guillier, P. Lacroix, A. Aydin, Seismic Responses of the Basin-fill Sediments and RC-buildings in the Kathmandu Valley (Nepal), SAGEEP 2018, March 2018, Nashville
2018, S. Fiolleau, D. Jongmans, G. Bièvre, A. Helmstetter, P. Lacroix, and L. Baillet, Seismic characterization of clay- block ruptures in the Harmalière landslide (French Western Alps), EGU2018-13201, VIenna
2020, Cheaib A., P. Lacroix, S. Zerathe, D. Jongmans , N. Ajorlou, M.-P. Doin, J. Hollingsworth, G. Rauscher , and C. Abdallah, Triggering mechanism of earthquake-induced landslides: the Sarpol-e Zahab Mw7.3 earthquake, Iran, case-study , JAG, Nice 2019
2020, Iskandar, R., Allaw, K., Dugdale, J., Beck, E., Adjizian-Gérard, J., Cornou, C.,... Lacroix, P.... & Zaarour, R. Agent-based simulation of pedestrians earthquake evacuation; application to Beirut, Lebanon, 17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Sendai, Japan, Sept 2020
2021, Bou Nassif, A., E. Maufroy, P. Lacroix, E. Chaljub, M. Causse, P.-Y. Bard, Effet de site topographique en champ proche : rôle de l'éclairage sismique et glissements de terrain induits, 5èmes Rencontres Scientifiques et Techniques Résif, Obernai, November 2021.
2022, Aspaas, A., Lacroix, P., Kristensen, L., Etzelmüller, B., and Renard, F.: What causes transient deformations in the Åknes landslide, Norway?, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-1718

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Research Interests

Pascal LACROIX — 2013-03-01T14:35:33Z

View on the Maca landslide (Peru)

– Dynamics of landslides during earthquakes
– Seismic monitoring of mass-movements
– Detection, characterization and monitoring of unstable slopes from remote sensing data
– Analysis of forcing factors on slow-moving landslides

Dynamics of landslides during earthquakes

The mechanics of landslides during earthquakes is highly unknown. In particular, the relative contribution of friction, damage in the bulk, grain crushing at the basal interface, fluid transport changes, and internal deformation, to the general landslide dynamics is a main question. Very few in situ data exists on active landslides during earthquakes that could be used to answer this problematics.
I focus my research on the monitoring of slow-moving landslides in seismic environments using both GNSS and satellite images (SPOT5, Pleiades, Sentinel-1) to measure the landslide surface deformation during earthquakes.

Two main projects structure this research: (1) The in-situ monitoring of two giant landslides in the Colca valley (South Peru) using both GNSS and seismic sensors. In particular, the Maca landslide is monitored permanently since 2012, (2) The satellite monitoring of landslides in the Himalayas (Nepal) and in the Zagros mountains (Iran).

Publications

2014, Lacroix P., H. Perfettini, E. Taipe, B. Guillier, Co- and postseismic motion of a landslide ; observations, modeling and analogy with tectonic faults, Geoph Res. Lett., doi : 10.1002/2014GL061170
2015, Lacroix P., E. Berthier, E. Taipe, Earthquake driven acceleration of slow-moving landslides in the Colca valley, Peru, detected from Pléiades images, Rem. Sens. Env, 165 (148-158).
2016, Zerathe, S., Lacroix, P., Jongmans, D., Marino, J., Taipe, E., Wathelet, M., ... & Tatard, L. Morphology, structure and kinematics of a rainfall controlled slow‐moving Andean landslide, Peru. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.
2018, Bontemps, N., P. Lacroix, Doin, M. P.. Inversion of deformation fields time-series from optical images, and application to the long term kinematics of slow-moving landslides in Peru. Remote Sensing of Environment, 210, 144-158.
2020, Bontemps N., P., Lacroix, E. Larose, E. Taipe & J. Jara. Rain and small earthquakes maintain a slow-moving landslide in a persistent critical state. Nature Communications. 11, 780
2022, Cheaib, A., P. Lacroix, S. Zerathe, D. Jongmans , N. Ajorlou, M.-P. Doin, J. Hollingsworth, and C. Abdallah, Landslides induced by the 2017 Mw7.3 Sarpol-Zahab earthquake (Iran), Landslides,
2022, Lacroix, P., T. Gavillon, C. Bouchant, J. Lavé , J.-L. Mugnier, S. Dhungel, and F. Vernier, SAR and optical images correlation illuminates post-seismic landslide motion after the Mw7.8 Gorkha earthquake (Nepal), Scientific Reports.

On the Maca landslide (Peru), the GPS monitoring during a Mw6.0 earthquake shows both a co and a postseismic motion.

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Seismic monitoring of mass-movements

I use seismic monitoring of mass-movements for two reasons: (1) to detect instabilities with a very precise timing, allowing me to study their forcing factors, (2) to gain informations on the sub-surface processes. I developed a beam-forming method to locate the micro-seismicity produced by the landslide activity and the rockfalls. For instance on the Sechilienne rockslide, we show that the energy of the deformation is released by many micro-earthquakes of small magnitudes (Magnitude max=1, b exponent of 1.6), and that only 0.1% of the deformation is released seismically.

View of the Sechilienne rockslide above the Romanche valley (left) and micro-seismicity of the deformation (yellow stars) overlayed over the landslide field velocity (colour code).

Publications

2011, Lacroix P., A. Helmstetter, Location of seismic signals associated with micro-earthquakes and rockfalls on the Séchilienne rockslide, French Alps, 101 (1), 341-353, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.
2012, Lacroix P., J.R. Grasso, J. Roulle, G. Giraud, D. Goetz, S. Morin, A. Helmstetter, Monitoring of snow avalanches using a seismic array: location, speed estimation and relationships to meteorological variables , J. Geophy. Res. - Earth Surface, 117, F01034, doi:10.1029/2011JF002106.
2017, Bievre, G., Lacroix P., L. Oxarango, D. Goutaland, G. Monnot, Y. Fargier, Integration of geotechnical and geophysical techniques for the characterization of a small earth-filled canal dyke and the localization of water leakage, Journal of Applied Geophysics, 139, 1–15]
2020, Bontemps N., P., Lacroix, E. Larose, E. Taipe & J. Jara. Rain and small earthquakes maintain a slow-moving landslide in a persistent critical state. Nature Communications. 11, 780
2021, Shugar, D. H., Jacquemart, M., Shean, D., Bhushan, S., Upadhyay, K., Sattar, A., ... Lacroix P.... & Westoby, M. J.. A massive rock and ice avalanche caused the 2021 disaster at Chamoli, Indian Himalaya. Science.
2022, Mourey, J., P. Lacroix, P.-A. Duvillard, G. Marsy, M. Marcer, L. Ravanel, and E. Malet, Rockfall and vulnerability of mountaineers on the west face of the Aiguille du Goûter (classic route up Mont Blanc, France), an interdisciplinary study, Natural Hazard and Earth Science System, 22, 445–460,

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Detection, characterization and monitoring of unstable slopes from remote sensing data

The detection, and characterization (volumes, speed) are the first inputs required to derive a hazard analysis. Satellite images are of main interest to retrieve these properties in remote areas. My research focus on the validation of various satellite data (SPOT6, Pléiades, Sentinel-2, Landsat-8) to estimate volumes of rapid landslides or ground displacement of slow-moving landslides. In particular, I developed a technique to derive time-series of ground displacement from a time-series of optical images. These time-series are the base for the the slow-moving landslide detection and monitoring, with two main perspectives: (1) operational monitoring of landslides to provide an early-warning system from space, (2) studying the mechanics of landslides.

Publications

2015, Lacroix P., E. Berthier, E. Taipe, Earthquake driven acceleration of slow-moving landslides in the Colca valley, Peru, detected from Pléiades images, Rem. Sens. Env, 165 (148-158).
2016, Lacroix P., Landslides triggered by the Gorkha earthquake in the Langtang valley, volumes and initiation processes. Earth, Planets and Space, 68(1), 1-10.
2018, M. Q. Pham, P. Lacroix, M.P. Doin, Sparsity optimization method for slow-moving landslides detection in satellite image time-series, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.
2018, P. Lacroix, G. Bievre, E. Pathier, U. Kniess, D. Jongmans, Use of Sentinel-2 images for the detection of precursory motions before landslide failures, Remote Sensing of Environment, 215, 507-516.
2018, Bontemps, N., P. Lacroix, Doin, M. P. (2018). Inversion of deformation fields time-series from optical images, and application to the long term kinematics of slow-moving landslides in Peru. Remote Sensing of Environment, 210, 144-158.
2019, Desrues, M., P. Lacroix, & O. Brenguier. Satellite Pre-Failure Detection and In Situ Monitoring of the Landslide of the Tunnel du Chambon, French Alps. Geosciences 9.7, 313.
2019, Lacroix, P., Araujo, G., Hollingsworth, J., & Taipe, E.. Self entrainment motion of a slow‐moving landslide inferred from Landsat‐8 time‐series. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface.
2021, Fiolleau, S., Jongmans, D., Bièvre, G., Chambon, G., Lacroix, P., Helmstetter, A., ... & Demierre, M. Multi-method investigation of mass transfer mechanisms in a retrogressive clayey landslide (Harmalière, French Alps). Landslides, 1-20.
2022, Provost, F., D. Michea, J.-P. Malet, E. Boissier, E. Pointal, A. Stumpf, F. Pacini, M.-P. Doin, P. Lacroix, P. Bally, Terrain deformation measurements from optical satellite imagery: the MPIC-OPT processing services for geohazards monitoring, Remote Sensing of Environment,

– next page : "Analysis of forcing factors on slow-moving landslides"

Analysis of forcing factors on slow-moving landslides

A landslide evolution results from a complex combination of geological and topographical factors, with possible interaction with external factors such as water infiltration, seismic shaking, fluvial erosion, or postglacial debutressing of the valley flank. All these processes act at different time and spatial scales, and their coupling is difficult to quantify.
My research focus on the analysis of geodetic time-series and mechanical modelling on a long term to study the mechanics of landslides and impacts of different forcings.

In addition to opportunities provided by collaborations with different colleagues in Norway, Iceland, Iran, Nepal, Lebanon, France, my research on this thematic is structured by two main projects on landslide analysis in Peru: (1) landslides in the Colca valley forced by earthquakes (see before), (2) landslides in the desertic valleys of Siguas and Vitor triggered by massive irrigation.

Publications

2011, A. Helmstetter, G. Ménard, D. Hantz, P. Lacroix, F. Thouvenot & J.-R. Grasso, Etude multidisciplinaire d'un effondrement dans la carrière de ciment de Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, Journées Aléa Gravitaire, Sept 2011, Strasbourg.
2013, Lacroix P., D. Amitrano, Long term dynamic of rock slides and damage propagation inferred from mechanical modelling, J. Geophy. Res. - Earth Surface. doi : 10.1002/2013JF002766
2016, Zerathe, S., Lacroix, P., Jongmans, D., Marino, J., Taipe, E., Wathelet, M., ... & Tatard, L. Morphology, structure and kinematics of a rainfall controlled slow‐moving Andean landslide, Peru. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.
2019, Lacroix, P., Araujo, G., Hollingsworth, J., & Taipe, E.. Self entrainment motion of a slow‐moving landslide inferred from Landsat‐8 time‐series. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface
2020, Lacroix, P., Dehecq, A. & Taipe, E. Irrigation-triggered landslides in a Peruvian desert caused by modern intensive farming. Nature Geosciences. 13, 56–60 (2020) doi:10.1038/s41561-019-0500-x
2020, Lacroix P., A. Handwerger, G. Bièvre. Life and death of slow-moving landslides, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.

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Maca (Pérou)

Pascal LACROIX — 2013-01-24T10:26:51Z

The large (60 Mm3) Maca slow-moving landslide affects thick fine-grained lacustrine sediments in the Colca valley (southern Peru). It affects a village of 850 inhabitants, a tourist roadway (160 000 visitors in 2009), and pre-Inca terraces.

Both rainfall and earthquakes are implied in its kinematics over the last 25 years. In July 1991, a local shallow earthquake of magnitude Mw 5.4 destroyed the western part of the village, killing 14 people, and caused the road to collapse. In June 2001, the subduction earthquake of Arequipa (Mw 8.4), located at about 120km from the site, caused another part of the road to collapse. During the rainy seasons in 2011–2012 and 2012–2013, major reactivations occurred and the road had to be elevated . Irrigation was made impossible by all the new cracks affecting the overall area, and many inhabitants were forced to change their activities or leave the village. Between February and July 2013, several shallow regional earthquakes (magnitudes between 5.2 and 6) destroyed a large part of the village and caused an acceleration of the landslide motion. Following these different events, the decision to move the village was reached in 2013 by the regional authorities, but two years later only a few inhabitants had left.

The landslide has been geodetically monitored since 2001 based on geodetic campaigns, and is permanently monitored since 2012 based on permanent GPS and seismometers, thanks to an active collaboration between ISTerre/IRD (France) and INGEMMET (Peru).

References :

Lacroix P., H. Perfettini, E. Taipe, B. Guillier (2014), Co- and postseismic motion of a landslide ; observations, modeling and analogy with tectonic faults, Geoph Res. Lett., doi : 10.1002/2014GL061170.

Lacroix P., E. Berthier, E. Taipe (2015), Earthquake driven acceleration of slow-moving landslides in the Colca valley, Peru, detected from Pléiades images, Rem. Sens. Env, 165 (148-158).

Zerathe, S., Lacroix, P., Jongmans, D., Marino, J., Taipe, E., Wathelet, M., et al. (2016), Morphology, structure and kinematics of a rainfall controlled slow‐moving Andean landslide, Peru. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.

Bontemps, N., P. Lacroix, M.-P. Doin (2018), Inversion of deformation fields time-series from optical images, and application to the long term kinematics of slow-moving landslides in Peru, Remote Sensing of Environment, 210, 144-158

Outreach
https://www.nature.com/news/creeping-earth-could-hold-secret-to-deadly-landslides-1.22485

https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/creeping-danger-landslide-threatens-peruvian-village-especially-when-earth-quakes

Data
http://deslizamientos.pe/

Contact :
Pascal Lacroix

Maca (Pérou)

Anaïs SCHNEIDER, Pascal LACROIX — 2013-01-24T10:26:51Z

References :

Lacroix P., E. Berthier, E. Taipe (2015), Earthquake driven acceleration of slow-moving landslides in the Colca valley, Peru, detected from Pléiades images, Rem. Sens. Env, 165 (148-158).

Outreach
https://www.nature.com/news/creeping-earth-could-hold-secret-to-deadly-landslides-1.22485

https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/creeping-danger-landslide-threatens-peruvian-village-especially-when-earth-quakes

Data
http://deslizamientos.pe/

Contact :
Pascal Lacroix