Evidence of a changing size–frequency distribution of landslides in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan, Central Asia

Research in the Maily-Say Valley, Kyrgyz Tien Shan, reveals a significant shift in landslide size-frequency distribution over the past 50 years, suggesting increasing landslide-related hazards. Analyzing five inventories (1962–2007) using remote sensing and spatial analysis, scientists observed a rise in both the number and size of unstable slopes, alongside a decreasing power-law exponent—a trend indicative of heightened geomorphic activity. The study employed image subtraction techniques based on NDVI to detect new landslide activations, confirming systematic changes in slope instability patterns in Central Asia.

Schlögel, R., Torgoev, I., De Marneffe, C., & Havenith, H.-B. (2011). Evidence of a changing size–frequency distribution of landslides in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan, Central Asia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 36(12), 1658–1669. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.2184