Monique FORT (PhD in Quaternary Geology, State Doctorate in Geography) is Emeritus Professor of Geomorphology and Environmental Sciences, Natural Hazards and Risks, at Paris Cité University. She worked extensively in various active mountains of the world (Alps, Central Asia and Himalayas), with additional experiences in Brazil, Mexico, Marocco, Turkey, Indonesia and Cameroon. Her main research interests evolved from the relations of landforms with respect to geological structures, then to glacial and climatic fluctuations and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. More recent work includes studies on current instabilities and natural hazards: large scale landslides, catastrophic floods, their impacts and their prevention, in France and in the Nepal Himalayas.
L’objectif de l’ouvrage propose par A. Goudie et H. Viles est d’inventorier et de comprendre les ... more L’objectif de l’ouvrage propose par A. Goudie et H. Viles est d’inventorier et de comprendre les differents effets geomorphologiques induits par la presence humaine depuis l’Anthropocene. Ce terme, relativement nouveau (1964), a suscite de nombreux debats au sein de la communaute scientifique, debats que les auteurs tentent de clarifier et de resumer dans leur introduction (chapitre 1). Que signifie le concept d’Anthropocene ? Y a-t-il des arguments solides pour en faire une veritable entite ...
Joint pedological, geochemical, hydrological and geophysical investigations were performed to stu... more Joint pedological, geochemical, hydrological and geophysical investigations were performed to study the coexistence of saline and freshwater lakes in close proximity and similar climatic conditions in the Nhecolândia region, Pantanal wetlands in Brazil. The saline lakes are concentrically surrounded by green sandy loam horizons, which cause differential hydrological regimes. Mg-calcite, K-silicates, and amorphous silica precipitate in the soil cover, whereas Mg-silicates and more soluble Na-carbonates are concentrated in the topsoil along the shore of the saline lake. In saline solutions, some minor elements (As, Se) reach values above the water quality recommendations, whereas others are controlled and incorporated in solid phases (Ba, Sr). Locally, the destruction of the sandy loam horizons generates very acidic soil solution (pH ~3.5) through a process not yet understood. The soil distributions indicate that some freshwater lakes are former saline lakes. They are invaded by fresh...
Supplementi Di Geografia Fisica E Dinamica Quaternaria, 2011
This paper is a contribution to the knowledge of large-scale landslides in the Nepal Himalaya. We... more This paper is a contribution to the knowledge of large-scale landslides in the Nepal Himalaya. We present two examples of giant rock slope failures that occurred north of the Annapurna Range, namely the Manang rock avalanche and Thini debris-flows. We show that they correspond most probably to seismically triggered features that have developed in connection with the North Himalayan Fault system activity during inter-stadial and post-glacial periods. Collectively with many other examples, they illustrate the fact that giant landsliding is a major process shaping and maintaining the steepness of the still rising Higher Himalayan Range.
Le projet SAMCO (Society Adaptation for coping with Mountain risks in a global change Context, 20... more Le projet SAMCO (Society Adaptation for coping with Mountain risks in a global change Context, 2013-2016) a pour but de développer un ensemble d'outils méthodologiques permettant d'améliorer la résilience des sociétés soumises aux impacts des risques en milieux montagneux. Ces outils visent à mesurer la capacité d'adaptation des écosystèmes et des sociétés à partir de l'analyse de cas réels provenant de 3 sites pilotes représentatifs.
Nepal experienced disastrous earthquake events in 2015. The first one (magnitude of 7.8) with epi... more Nepal experienced disastrous earthquake events in 2015. The first one (magnitude of 7.8) with epicenter in Barpak, Gorkha district, occurred on 25th April 2015, followed by another event (7.3 magnitude) on 12thMay 2015, with epicenter in 19 km south east of Kodari, Sindhupalchok district. Those earthquake events induced different types of geo-hazard and they are widely distributed and caused serious damages and losses. This paper discusses the types of geo-hazards induced by these Gorkha and Sindhupalchok earthquake events and the losses and damages from those events; and the future risk from those geo-hazards in Pharak area covering 305 km2 in Solukhumbu district, Nepal. Satellite images of before and after the events were used to map landslide, debris flow, landslide dam and other geomorphic changes after earthquake. Information on the losses, damages and future risk were collected through focus group discussion, key informants’ interview, observation, and measurement. A total of ...
The study focuses on the eastern margin of the zone affected by the April–May 2015 earthquakes, i... more The study focuses on the eastern margin of the zone affected by the April–May 2015 earthquakes, i.e. the Dudh Koshi River section between the Khari Khola and Monjo (Solukhumbu District). Visits before and after the earthquake sequence allowed us to assess the geomorphic changes caused by the earthquakes and the subsequent monsoon. These changes are characterized by land sliding (rock falls, rockslides, landslides, gullies and debris flows), and cascading processes, which supplied coarse debris into rivers (bed load).The impact of the earthquakes on buildings, trails and existing infrastructures (canals, hydropower plants) was also investigated. While the age and construction quality of buildings are of some import, other parameters such as the nature and depth of colluvial deposits appear to be significant factors likely to amplify the effects of ground shaking, as observed on large block fields south-west of the Khari Khola catchment, which might be inherited from former undated se...
Active mountains supply the largest sediment fluxes experienced on earth. At mountain range scale... more Active mountains supply the largest sediment fluxes experienced on earth. At mountain range scale, remote sensing approaches, sediments provenance or stream power law analyses, collectively provide rough long-term estimates of total erosion. Erosion is indeed controlled by rock uplift and climate, hence by a wide range of processes (detachment, transport and deposition), all operating within drainage basin units, yet with time and spatial patterns that are quite complex at local scale. We focus on the Kali Gandaki valley, along the gorge section across the Higher Himalaya (e.g. from Kagbeni down to Tatopani). Along this reach, we identify sediment sources, stores and sinks, and consider hillslope int eractions with valley floor, in particular valley damming at short and longer time scales, and their impact on sediment budgets and fluxes. A detailed sediment budget is presented, constrained by available dates and/or relative chronology, ranging from several 10 kyr to a few decades. O...
L’objectif de l’ouvrage propose par A. Goudie et H. Viles est d’inventorier et de comprendre les ... more L’objectif de l’ouvrage propose par A. Goudie et H. Viles est d’inventorier et de comprendre les differents effets geomorphologiques induits par la presence humaine depuis l’Anthropocene. Ce terme, relativement nouveau (1964), a suscite de nombreux debats au sein de la communaute scientifique, debats que les auteurs tentent de clarifier et de resumer dans leur introduction (chapitre 1). Que signifie le concept d’Anthropocene ? Y a-t-il des arguments solides pour en faire une veritable entite ...
Joint pedological, geochemical, hydrological and geophysical investigations were performed to stu... more Joint pedological, geochemical, hydrological and geophysical investigations were performed to study the coexistence of saline and freshwater lakes in close proximity and similar climatic conditions in the Nhecolândia region, Pantanal wetlands in Brazil. The saline lakes are concentrically surrounded by green sandy loam horizons, which cause differential hydrological regimes. Mg-calcite, K-silicates, and amorphous silica precipitate in the soil cover, whereas Mg-silicates and more soluble Na-carbonates are concentrated in the topsoil along the shore of the saline lake. In saline solutions, some minor elements (As, Se) reach values above the water quality recommendations, whereas others are controlled and incorporated in solid phases (Ba, Sr). Locally, the destruction of the sandy loam horizons generates very acidic soil solution (pH ~3.5) through a process not yet understood. The soil distributions indicate that some freshwater lakes are former saline lakes. They are invaded by fresh...
Supplementi Di Geografia Fisica E Dinamica Quaternaria, 2011
This paper is a contribution to the knowledge of large-scale landslides in the Nepal Himalaya. We... more This paper is a contribution to the knowledge of large-scale landslides in the Nepal Himalaya. We present two examples of giant rock slope failures that occurred north of the Annapurna Range, namely the Manang rock avalanche and Thini debris-flows. We show that they correspond most probably to seismically triggered features that have developed in connection with the North Himalayan Fault system activity during inter-stadial and post-glacial periods. Collectively with many other examples, they illustrate the fact that giant landsliding is a major process shaping and maintaining the steepness of the still rising Higher Himalayan Range.
Le projet SAMCO (Society Adaptation for coping with Mountain risks in a global change Context, 20... more Le projet SAMCO (Society Adaptation for coping with Mountain risks in a global change Context, 2013-2016) a pour but de développer un ensemble d'outils méthodologiques permettant d'améliorer la résilience des sociétés soumises aux impacts des risques en milieux montagneux. Ces outils visent à mesurer la capacité d'adaptation des écosystèmes et des sociétés à partir de l'analyse de cas réels provenant de 3 sites pilotes représentatifs.
Nepal experienced disastrous earthquake events in 2015. The first one (magnitude of 7.8) with epi... more Nepal experienced disastrous earthquake events in 2015. The first one (magnitude of 7.8) with epicenter in Barpak, Gorkha district, occurred on 25th April 2015, followed by another event (7.3 magnitude) on 12thMay 2015, with epicenter in 19 km south east of Kodari, Sindhupalchok district. Those earthquake events induced different types of geo-hazard and they are widely distributed and caused serious damages and losses. This paper discusses the types of geo-hazards induced by these Gorkha and Sindhupalchok earthquake events and the losses and damages from those events; and the future risk from those geo-hazards in Pharak area covering 305 km2 in Solukhumbu district, Nepal. Satellite images of before and after the events were used to map landslide, debris flow, landslide dam and other geomorphic changes after earthquake. Information on the losses, damages and future risk were collected through focus group discussion, key informants’ interview, observation, and measurement. A total of ...
The study focuses on the eastern margin of the zone affected by the April–May 2015 earthquakes, i... more The study focuses on the eastern margin of the zone affected by the April–May 2015 earthquakes, i.e. the Dudh Koshi River section between the Khari Khola and Monjo (Solukhumbu District). Visits before and after the earthquake sequence allowed us to assess the geomorphic changes caused by the earthquakes and the subsequent monsoon. These changes are characterized by land sliding (rock falls, rockslides, landslides, gullies and debris flows), and cascading processes, which supplied coarse debris into rivers (bed load).The impact of the earthquakes on buildings, trails and existing infrastructures (canals, hydropower plants) was also investigated. While the age and construction quality of buildings are of some import, other parameters such as the nature and depth of colluvial deposits appear to be significant factors likely to amplify the effects of ground shaking, as observed on large block fields south-west of the Khari Khola catchment, which might be inherited from former undated se...
Active mountains supply the largest sediment fluxes experienced on earth. At mountain range scale... more Active mountains supply the largest sediment fluxes experienced on earth. At mountain range scale, remote sensing approaches, sediments provenance or stream power law analyses, collectively provide rough long-term estimates of total erosion. Erosion is indeed controlled by rock uplift and climate, hence by a wide range of processes (detachment, transport and deposition), all operating within drainage basin units, yet with time and spatial patterns that are quite complex at local scale. We focus on the Kali Gandaki valley, along the gorge section across the Higher Himalaya (e.g. from Kagbeni down to Tatopani). Along this reach, we identify sediment sources, stores and sinks, and consider hillslope int eractions with valley floor, in particular valley damming at short and longer time scales, and their impact on sediment budgets and fluxes. A detailed sediment budget is presented, constrained by available dates and/or relative chronology, ranging from several 10 kyr to a few decades. O...
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Papers by Monique FORT