Morphological and morphometric analysis of debris flow sites using satellite imagery in the Ile Alatau Mountains, Kazakhstan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24425/jwld.2025.156048Abstract
Debris flows in mountainous regions around the world pose a significant threat to human lives, infrastructure, and local ecosystems. The study of the morphology and morphometry of debris flow sites is essential for assessing debris flow hazards and developing protective measures. The paper examines methods for interpreting debris flow sites using satellite imagery in the Ile Alatau Range of the Northern Tien Shan (Kazakhstan). Mapping of debris flow sites was carried out through manual interpretation of Google Earth images in the most debris flow-prone basin of the Ulken Almaty River. Morphometric characteristics of 86 debris flow sites were determined using ArcGIS software. Distributions of the debris flow sites by area, length, slope, and altitude were obtained. The area of the sites ranges from 0.2 to 4.7 km2. The distribution shows a pronounced positive skew. Site lengths vary from 640 to 7,500 m and their distribution is also strongly positively skewed. The mean slope of the debris flow sites ranges from 6° to 33° and shows significant negative skewness. The altitude of the sites ranges from 1,300 to 3,860 m a.s.l., with a weakly negative skew in distribution. Approximately 70% of the debris flow sites are located within the elevation zone of 2,000-3,500 m a.s.l. The study demonstrated the high effectiveness of remote sensing methods for mapping and inventorying debris flow sites. These data are used for debris flow hazard assessment and the development of protective measures. The proposed methodology can be applied in other mountainous regions of Central Asia.References
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