Relief evolution of landslide slopes in the Kamienne Mts (Central Sudetes, Poland) – analysis of a high-resolution DEM from airborne LiDAR

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the study is to reconstruct the development of landslide relief in the Kamienne Mountains (Central Sudetes, SW Poland) based on a DEM from LiDAR data. Analyses of relief and geological maps in ArcGIS 10.5 and of slope cross-sections in Surfer 14 allowed to distinguish different types of landslide relief, developed in latites and trachybasalts lying above claystones and mudstones. The types vary from small, poorly visible landslides to vast landslides with complex relief. They were interpreted as consecutive stages of geomorphic evolution of hillslope-valley topography of the study area. Two main schemes have been established which explain the development of landslide slopes in the Kamienne Mts: (1) upslope, from the base of the slope towards the mountain ridge and (2) downslope, beginning on the top of the mountain ridge. The direction of landslide development depends on the thickness of volcanic rocks in relation to underlying sedimentary rocks. When the latter appear only in the lowest part of the slope, landslides develop upslope. If sedimentary rocks dominate on the slope and volcanic rocks form only its uppermost part, landslides develop downslope. The results show that landsliding leads to significant modifications of relief of the study area, including complete degradation of mountain ridges.