On the temporal and spatial variance in displacement velocity of a slide in varved clays in the French ALPS

The distribution of slide rate in time and space in an active landslide in varved clays in the French Alps are presented. Convergent flow of the sliding mass and increase of slide rate downslope appeared from geodetic measurements. By means of a mass balance it is shown that the convergence is compensated by the increased slide rate hence the depth of the sliding mass is constant throughout the slide. In the eight years of recording, variations in the precipitation totals in the period accumulated masses forms an additional explanation.