Map showing Susceptibility to Earthquake-Induced Landsliding, San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico

By Marilyn Santiago and Matthew C. Larsen

In cooperation with the
PUERTO RICO PLANNING BOARD

Open-File Report 01-39

ONLINE ONLY

You can DOWNLOAD THIS REPORT in Portable Document Format (PDF)

The Adobe PDF Reader program is available for free from Adobe.

ABSTRACT

Analysis of slope angle and rock type using a geographic information system indicates that about 68 percent of the San Juan metropolitan area has low to no susceptibility to earthquake-induced landslides. This is at least partly due to the fact that 45 percent of the San Juan metropolitan area is constructed on slopes of 3 degrees or less, which are too gentle for landslides to occur. The areas with the highest susceptibility to earthquake-induced landslides account for 6 percent of the surface area. Almost one-quarter (24 percent) of the San Juan metropolitan area is moderately susceptible to earthquake-induced landslides. These areas are mainly in the southern portions of the San Juan metropolitan area, where housing development pressures are currently high because of land availability and the esthetics of greenery and hillside views. The combination of new development and moderate earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility indicate that the southern portions of the San Juan metropolitan area are be at greatest risks.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract
Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Acknowledgments
Methodology

Results

Conclusion

References

The citation for this report, in USGS format, is as follows:

Santiago Marilyn, Map showing susceptibility to earthquake-induced landsliding, San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico, 2 plate.em>

Download in pdf Plate 1 (19.8 MB), Plate 2 (5.9 MB)

Please visit http://pr.water.usgs.gov/ for more information about USGS activities in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).