Geomorphology最新文献

{"title":"Climate controls denudation rates from earthquake-triggered landslides in tectonically active mountains","authors":"Mengjie Yang ,&nbsp;Shenghua Cui ,&nbsp;Xiangjun Pei ,&nbsp;Tao Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Against the backdrop of global climate change, the combined effects of frequent seismic activity, intense rainfall, and steep terrain have heightened landslide risks in the Himalayan region. Existing regional-scale studies have primarily focused on landslide denudation triggered by either rainfall or earthquakes, while investigations considering their combined influence remain limited. This study quantifies landslide denudation caused by the Wenchuan earthquake. It examines its relationship with the coupling of rainfall and seismic activity, thereby assessing the impact of rainfall–earthquake interactions on topographic evolution. Based on an analysis of landslide spatial distribution data, topographic indicators, rainfall, and earthquake parameters. We identified a significant nonlinear relationship between landslide denudation rates and topographic metrics. The coupling of rainfall and earthquakes substantially amplified landslide denudation rates. Rainfall continuously weakened rock mass strength through cyclical weathering and fluctuations in pore water pressure; when seismic events occurred, the equivalent rock strength further declined and surpassed the critical threshold for slope failure. This process increased landslide denudation rates and reduced the degree of nonlinearity, with the reduction being most pronounced under hard-rock conditions. Overall, this study enhances the understanding of erosion dynamics driven by extreme events in active orogenic belts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110112"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145693630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heterogeneity of complex landslides from the perspective of dendrogeomorphology","authors":"Karel Šilhán","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Complex landslides are characterised by the presence of zones with different depths and mechanisms of movement. From the perspective of dendrogeomorphic research, however, these landslides are generally treated as homogeneous units, which can, however, introduce critical scatter and ambiguity in the results. This limitation is particularly serious because tree-ring based approaches are currently considered the most accurate tool for dating landslides in temperate climates. Thus, this study focused on distinguishing the specificity of landslide movement behaviour in two contrasting zones within a complex landslide area through dendrogeomorphic methods. Three complex landslides were studied using data from 746 increment cores of disturbed trees. Within each area, two different landslide types (zone of earthflow and zone of rotational landslide) were defined and analyzed separately. Dendrogeomorphic analysis revealed major differences between the two zones in several parameters. Trees in the two zones responded differently to the ratio of the two types of growth disturbances. Rotational landslides and earthflows showed different frequencies of occurrence and sizes of reactivated areas. In addition, magnitude-frequency analyses suggested different physical mechanisms for the two processes. The difference in potential triggers was found to be crucial. Earthflows zones responded to short-term precipitation extremes after a long dry period, whereas rotational landslide zones responded to medium-term extremes after several years of above-average precipitation. Thus, the results of the study clearly indicate the necessity of strict separation of the contrast landslide types within complex landslides in dendrogeomorphic research for higher accuracy of results with minimization of their scatter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110108"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145693629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grain-size controls on quartz OSL sensitivity in fluvial systems: insights from transport mechanisms in the upper Yellow River","authors":"Ya Liu ,&nbsp;Song-Xi Du ,&nbsp;Jia-Fu Zhang ,&nbsp;Xue Rui ,&nbsp;Yu-He Shen ,&nbsp;Jia-Jing Wang ,&nbsp;Qing-Hao Ma ,&nbsp;Zheng-Hao Gu","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110102","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110102","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding sediment transport dynamics in large river systems remains challenging due to the complex grain-size-dependent processes. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) sensitivity of quartz grains offers potential as a sediment tracer, but its response to fluvial transport modes remains poorly constrained. Here we analyze 26 modern fluvial sediments along the Upper Yellow River (615 km from Zhaling Lake to Ruoergai Basin), comparing OSL characteristics across three transport regimes. The study reveals distinct patterns between fine and coarse fractions: Suspension-transported fine silt (4–11 μm) exhibits low OSL sensitivity (34.0 ± 12.0 to 551.3 ± 272.0 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹, avg. 221.3 ± 125.0 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹) and high residual doses (−2.2 ± 2.1 Gy to 19.0 ± 3.8 Gy, avg. 8.2 ± 4.9 Gy). This results from: (1) persistent turbidity shielding particles from sunlight exposure; (2) colloidal aggregation significantly reducing effective surface area for bleaching; and (3) Organic acid etching from riparian vegetation degrading luminescence centers. Bedload-transported medium-coarse grains (63–250 μm) show significantly higher sensitivity (63–90 μm: 137.9 ± 272.0 to 1939.0 ± 198.0 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹, avg. 775.8 ± 138.7 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹; 90–250 μm: 120.0 ± 52.0 to 1115.7 ± 20.0 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹, avg. 513.2 ± 139.0 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹) and near-zero residual doses (63–90 μm: -–0.5 ± 0.1 to 7.3 ± 0.9 Gy, avg. 0.7 ± 0.7 Gy; 90–250 μm: −0.7 ± 0.1 to 7.39 ± 0.9 Gy, avg. 0.5 ± 0.7 Gy), benefiting from repeated sunlight exposure during saltation/rolling and mechanical abrasion regenerating luminescence centers. Downstream trends show 24–27 % sensitivity increase within 300 km (e.g., 63–90 μm: 422.7 ± 13.2 to 1314.3 ± 26.1 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹), demonstrating progressive signal enhancement. Notable deviations occur at: (1) Dari County (334 km), where road construction introduces low-sensitivity debris (DML: 527.0 ± 111.0 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹), and (2) Maqu (744 km), where aeolian inputs elevate sensitivity (817.0 ± 51.0 counts·mg⁻¹·Gy⁻¹). The Ruoergai Basin shows 19–24 % sensitivity reduction due to tectonic subsidence limiting sediment reworking. These findings establish OSL sensitivity as an effective discriminator of transport mechanisms, with bedload grains (&gt;63 μm) optimal for depositional dating and fine grains preserving source signals. The study provides a quantitative framework for sediment routing analysis in large fluvial systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110102"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Widespread relict dunefields of Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars: Evidence of bedform formation on unusually steep slopes","authors":"Matt W. Telfer ,&nbsp;Mackenzie Day ,&nbsp;Matthew Chojnacki","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Evidence for relic dunes and dunefields is valuable for its palaeoclimatic implications of a planetary surface, but bedforms are rarely clearly preserved in planform, such that they might be observable by orbital sensors. Uniformly-spaced patterning of the landscape, covering ∼3000 km², on the slopes of very large valleys in eastern Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars, is here interpreted as a series of palaeodunefields, with a number of very unusual characteristics. Occurring at elevations sometimes in excess of 7000 m, these are candidates for the highest elevation aeolian bedforms yet observed on Mars. Using data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's CTX and HiRISE cameras, we describe the attributes of these dunes and set them in geomorphological context of a remarkable landscape. Their morphology and distribution are consistent with aeolian bedforms, and their scale and orientation suggest that they can be classified as transverse climbing dunes. Unlike most climbing dunes, however, which typically form isolated bedforms, the large number of repeating bedforms dunes here suggests that these might be better termed as part of a climbing dunefield. The palaeodunes are found on slopes averaging 17°, and are present even on underlying slopes up to the angle of repose of sand on Mars, at about 32–34°. Consideration of the geometry of the present-day expression of relative relief (approximately 4–10 m), and models of potential past geometries of dunes on steep slopes, raises the possibility that these dunes may never have had leeside slip faces. Their antiquity is indicated by extensive cratering of the indurated surfaces, and crater-counting statistics suggest a Late Amazonian age of around 5 Ma. Their distribution, primarily on east-facing slopes, implies formation under a westward sediment flux, with deposition presumably occurring due to topographically-induced slowdown of winds on the large (sometimes &gt;5000 m relief), very smooth-sided valley walls.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110075"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145529511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical assessment of a tree-ring-based snow avalanche reconstruction: Makunosawa experimental site, Japan","authors":"Ryoko Nishii ,&nbsp;Juan Antonio Ballesteros-Cánovas ,&nbsp;Yukari Takeuchi ,&nbsp;Markus Stoffel ,&nbsp;Takafumi Katsushima","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tree-ring-based reconstructions of snow avalanches are increasingly valuable for assessing the impacts of climate change in high mountain regions. However, their reliability depends critically on understanding and managing the signal-to-noise ratio in tree-ring data. To evaluate the accuracy of this method, we compared tree-ring evidence with high-confidence avalanche observations (2000–2018) at the Makunosawa site in Japan, where winter snow depth regularly exceeds 300 cm. Using a confusion matrix, we found a high detection accuracy of 89 % and a low false negative rate of 17 % when applying a weighted index of 1.4 across all sampled trees. The resulting tree-ring chronology revealed 14 large-scale avalanches (with flow distances exceeding 2000 m) between 1967 and 2018, with recurrence intervals ranging from 1.7 to 5 years. Avalanche activity was notably higher during the 1980s and early 2000s. We find that in heavily snow-covered regions, abrupt growth suppressions in conifer trees are the most reliable indicator of past avalanche damage, as exposed trunks and crowns are especially susceptible to impact. Furthermore, the height at which injuries are sampled is crucial: damage located below the typical winter snow surface is more likely to result from other processes and may introduce noise into the chronology. These findings underscore the importance of both signal selection and thoughtful sampling strategies in enhancing the accuracy of dendrogeomorphic reconstructions of snow avalanche activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110087"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tectonic imprints and channel dynamics in the Upper Ken Basin, Peninsular India: Insights from neotectonics and inversion structures","authors":"Kundan Parmar ,&nbsp;Satheesh Chothodi","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110091","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110091","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Upper Ken Basin of central India, located at the junction of the Bundelkhand Craton and the Vindhyan Basin, exhibits strong tectonic and lithological control over its fluvial systems. We analyzed 25 sub-catchments using a 30 m DEM and GSI Bouguer gravity maps, applying DEM-based morphometric indices (hypsometric integral, stream-length gradient, and Transverse Topographic Symmetry). Hypsometric integrals range from ~0.30 to 0.70: several upland catchments (S-1) have HI &gt; 0.60 (convex profiles), whereas deeply incised catchments (S-6–S-8) have HI &lt; 0.30 (concave), indicating localized uplift and enhanced erosion. Stream-length gradient (SL) analysis identifies pronounced knickpoints; notably, the Ken River shows an SL index ≈4.4 × 10⁴ (≈44,000) at ~141 km from its source, coincident with a topographic cusp and a positive gravity anomaly. The Sonar and Bearma rivers also exhibit SL peaks that align with resistant sandstone units and Bouguer highs. ANOVA results indicate that catchment elevation (η² ≈ 0.023–0.083) explains substantially more SL-index variance than lithology (η² ≈ 0.008–0.045; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). The Transverse Topographic Symmetry Index reveals a coherent southeastward channel migration in most western and southwestern catchments (mean azimuth ≈130°), consistent with tilting toward the Vindhyan syncline; a few eastern catchments display southwestward trends associated with local lithologic controls. These geomorphic asymmetries spatially coincide with NE–SW-trending lineaments and N–S grabens (e.g., Sonar–Jabera faults). Together, these findings underscore the role of hidden intraplate deformation in shaping drainage networks and imply that such tectonic signals should be considered in regional water-resource management and seismic-hazard planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110091"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hurricane-triggered cascading hazards: Geomorphic responses and flood hazard dynamics in a tropical mountain region","authors":"Yenny Alejandra Jiménez Donato ,&nbsp;Carla Restrepo ,&nbsp;Juan A. Ballesteros-Cánovas ,&nbsp;Alberto Muñoz-Torrero Manchado ,&nbsp;Miguel Antonio Ávila Mora ,&nbsp;Michelle Catalán Armas ,&nbsp;Markus Stoffel","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110090","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110090","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In tropical mountains, extreme hydrometeorological hazards have the potential to produce significant geomorphic changes that influence flood hazard dynamics. Although considerable research has been devoted to the geomorphic response of catchments to flood in temperate areas, comparatively little attention has been paid to the geomorphic and hydrological impacts of hurricanes in tropical mountainous areas. It is thus crucial to identify and quantify the differential response of catchments to these events and to integrate those changes into the corresponding flood hazard analyses. In this study, we address three key research questions: (1) What are the geomorphic impacts triggered by hurricanes in mountainous regions at the river reach scale? (2) To what extent do neighboring catchments differ in their response to hurricanes? (3) How do hurricane-induced geomorphic changes influence flood hazard dynamics? For that, we investigate the geomorphic response and flood hazard of two catchments in the Sierra de las Minas (Guatemala), Pasabien and Jones, by analyzing their response to cascading events triggered by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. We use an integrated approach that combines UAV and satellite-based remote sensing analyses, field-based evidence and physically based modeling to analyze landform and flood extent changes after the events. The overall results indicate that hurricanes have the capacity to impact flood hazard dynamics as they play a key role in landscape evolution, and that the storm characteristics, together with physiographic characteristics of the catchment, condition their differential geomorphic impact<em>.</em> These results have strong implications for disaster risk reduction, especially in the light of the ongoing urbanization process and the increasing frequency of hydrometeorological extreme in tropical mountains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110090"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics and formation mechanisms of sand-flow talus slopes in cold–arid Valleys, Southeastern Tibet","authors":"Yang Xue ,&nbsp;Ningsheng Chen ,&nbsp;Tao Wen ,&nbsp;Yankun Wang ,&nbsp;Bocheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Yunpeng Yang ,&nbsp;Zhenye Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Talus slopes are prevalent throughout alpine mountain regions. In southeastern Tibet, along the Bomi–Ranwu section of the G318 National Highway, sand-flow talus (SFT) deposits pose a significant threat to the road. This research explores their development, environmental influences, and formation processes through field surveys, remote sensing, laboratory tests, and spatiotemporal data analysis. The findings show that factors such as precipitation, elevation, the aridity index, and stream order play crucial roles in shaping these slopes. Approximately 72 % of the slopes are found close to first-order streams. Detrital particles primarily originate from the physical weathering of granites, which are primarily made up of mineral particles such as quartz and feldspar, with minimal clay content. The weathered material comes from medium- to coarse-grained granite bedrock and is shaped by dense structural planes in cold-arid valley conditions. Daily temperature fluctuations induce thermal fatigue and freeze–thaw cycles, which primarily facilitate the physical weathering of rock. The development of SFT slopes involves rock-mass collapse, gravity-driven downward movement, and particle transport over long distances via flow zones. Hydraulic erosion processes, such as interrill and rill erosion, primarily drive the movement and accumulation of grain materials. This study offers new insights into the formation mechanisms of SFT slopes in alpine mountain environments and establishes a scientific basis for hazard prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110099"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145693628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of kinematic characteristics of geohazards along the Karakoram Highway using multi-track time series InSAR observations","authors":"Bei An ,&nbsp;Changcheng Wang ,&nbsp;Yanan Jiang ,&nbsp;Peng Shen ,&nbsp;Chen Liu ,&nbsp;Kui Liu ,&nbsp;Rui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Karakoram Highway traverses geologically complex terrain that extends acrossthe Himalayas, the northern Pamir Plateau, and the Kunlun Mountains, regions characterized by active tectonics, frequent seismicity activity, and intense rainfall events. These factors collectively drive recurrent geological hazards, including landslides, glacial debris flows, and glacial lake outburst floods along the corridor. This study employed Sentinel-1 SAR imagery from ascending and descending tracks (June 2018–November 2024) to document surface deformation across the Karakoram region through multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (MT-InSAR) analysis. Multi-track SAR integration effectively expanded the observable coverage area by mitigating geometric shadows and layover effects inherent to side-looking radar imaging, which enabled comprehensive identification of multiple geohazards along the Karakoram Highway corridor. To better characterize kinematics of diverse geohazards, this study proposes an interval estimation-based deformation projection method that converts line-of-sight deformation rates into slope-parallel displacement components. Integrated analysis of MT-InSAR deformation measurements and local hydrometeorological data reveals deformation characteristics of diverse geohazards in the Karakoram region, including ablation-driven glacial debris flows, frontal debris accumulation at glacier termini, deformation patterns of slow-moving landslides, periglacial deformation around glacial lakes, and other phenomena. This synthesis underscores the significant influence of seasonal temperature fluctuations and concentrated rainfall on the deformation signatures of these geohazards, which may induce potential threats to road infrastructure integrity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110089"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geomorphic impacts of wildfire on soil erosion: pre- and post-fire RUSLE modeling in Bosco Difesa Grande, Southern Italy, using Google Earth Engine","authors":"Somayeh Zahabnazouri ,&nbsp;Patrick Belmont ,&nbsp;Scott R. David ,&nbsp;Peter E. Wigand ,&nbsp;Domenico Capolongo","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wildfire can significantly alter landscape stability, particularly in Mediterranean environments where steep terrain and seasonal rainfall amplify erosion risk. This study evaluates the geomorphic impacts of wildfire on soil erosion in the Bosco Difesa Grande, Southern Italy, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE).</div><div>By independently calculating each factor under pre- and post-fire conditions, this research provides a robust, spatially explicit assessment of hillslope erosion dynamics. Results reveal a substantial increase in erosion potential driven by vegetation loss, terrain steepness, and rainfall erosivity, especially in a Mediterranean setting characterized by complex topography and diverse land cover.</div><div>Post-fire analysis shows a significant reduction in vegetation cover, with NDVI values declining by up to 70 % in severely burned areas. This loss led to a sharp increase in soil erosion rates, exceeding 35 t/ha/year on steep, south-facing slopes with extensive canopy damage.</div><div>Burn severity classification confirmed that erosion escalates with fire intensity: areas with “Very High” severity experienced a rise in soil loss from 17.3 to 175.4 t/ha/year, a nearly tenfold increase, while minimally affected zones saw only minor changes. These results emphasize the direct influence of wildfire severity on post-fire land degradation.</div><div>This study highlights the value of combining remote sensing and cloud-based platforms for post-fire erosion monitoring. It advocates for localized calibration and the incorporation of vegetation recovery data to enhance risk assessment accuracy, supporting more targeted soil conservation and land management strategies in fire-prone Mediterranean landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"494 ","pages":"Article 110109"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145693627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}