Mapping Whidbey Island and Possession Sound landslide susceptibility using an additive linear model

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] The Puget Sound region has a multitude of natural disasters dating back over thousands of years. Due to extreme weather conditions and seismic activity landslides have been a frequently occurring disaster. Multiple landslides occur annually causing massive destruction. Using an additive linear model including four landslide inducing factors: slope, aspect, topographic position index, and ground type, a susceptibility model will be produced to model landslide susceptibility in Possession Sound and on the southeastern coast of Whidbey Island. The additive linear model is a foundational method for landslide hazard analysis and needs to be implemented in the Puget Sound.

University of Washington School of Oceanography