Landslide response to climate change in permafrost regions
Citation
Patton, A.I., Rathburn, S.L., Capps, D.M. (2019). Landslide response to climate change in permafrost regions. Geomorphology, 340: 116-128. Link to paper
Abstract
Rapid permafrost thaw in high-latitude and high-elevation areas increases hillslope susceptibility to landsliding by altering geotechnical properties, including reduced cohesion and increased hydraulic connectivity. This review synthesizes the fundamental processes that will increase landslide frequency and magnitude in permafrost regions in the coming decades with observational and analytical studies. After permafrost thaws, landslides will be driven primarily by atmospheric input of moisture and freeze-thaw fracturing. The paper suggests three key research areas: expand the geographic extent of English-language research on landslides in permafrost; maintain or initiate long-term monitoring projects; and quantify the net effect on the terrestrial carbon budget.