Where the Hills Slide Slowly: A LiDAR-Based Morphometric Framework for Landslide Instability Regimes in Soft-Rock Terrains
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Deep-seated landslide complexes are widespread in soft-rock hill-country landscapes, yet their regional morphometric organisation and controlling factors remain insufficiently quantified. This study uses high-resolution (1 m) airborne LiDAR-derived terrain data integrated with geological and drainage-network datasets to investigate landslide complexes in the eastern Tararua District, New Zealand. A relative, unit-based morphometric framework is applied to compare terrain derivatives (including slope, aspect, and multi-scale relative relief) between mapped landslides and their host geological units. To isolate intrinsic lithological controls from geomorphic influences, the analysis is restricted to landslides occurring entirely within a single geological unit. The results indicate that lithology exerts first-order control on landslide morphometry, while fluvial incision and valley confinement regulate landslide initiation and persistence. Landslides are preferentially associated with low- to mid-order channels, indicating strong hillslope–channel coupling within a young, actively uplifting landscape. A conceptual threshold framework is proposed, showing that landslides develop where lithological susceptibility and relief amplification jointly exceed stability thresholds. By integrating geological information with LiDAR-based morphometric analysis, this study provides a transferable framework for distinguishing instability regimes and improving understanding of sediment dynamics and landscape evolution in soft-rock terrains.
Source: Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.3390/rs18081135
Authors: Szabolcs Kósik, Callum Rees
Institution: Massey University
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W7154111498