Implications of geomorphometric parameters on the occurrence of landslides in the Kali Valley, Kumaun Himalaya, India

The Kumaun Himalaya registers frequent seismicity, neotectonic behaviour and incessant rainfall which accel-erate hillslope processes governing landsliding phenomenon. Within the Kali Basin between Jauljibi and Gar-byang, morphometric analysis of 45 fourth order sub-basins were carried out to prepare an erosion potential map of the region. The spatial distribution of 376 landslides including 158 debris slide and 97 rockfalls correlates well with the erosion map depicting 40% landslides in very high zone, 15% in high zone, 33% in moderate zone, 12% in low zone across the Kali Basin. The dominant parameters responsible for the erosion were evaluated using statistical methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchal clustering (AHC). The comparison of PC1, PC2 and PC3 illustrates high erosion activity around the Main Central Thrust (MCT) and within the Vaikrita and Chipplakote formations which strongly reflect the function of basin dimension, bifur-cation ratio, drainage density, relief and shape parameters for sub-basins exhibiting high proneness to flooding and typical surface runoff. The PCA results are consistent with AHC, where AHC clusters correspond with PCA factor loadings. Morphotectonic analysis using steepness index (Ksn) and valley floor width to height ratio (Vf) for the Kali and Dhauli rivers were integrated with landslide inventory that indicate the highest landslide density across the active Seraghat-Tintola Fault (STF) near Tawaghat and moderate to high density near topographic fronts of closely spaced active Lasku Fault (LF), Ghatibagar Kalika Fault (GKF) Rauntis Fault (RF) that outcrop within the Lesser Himalayan Sequences(LHS) exposed between Dharchula and Jauljibi. The study provides an understanding of quantitative geomorphometry as an useful approach to identify potentially active zones for slope failures and provide a guide to decision-makers in regional planning and mitigating the landslide hazard in the Kali valley which is developing hub for large scale infrastructural and tourist activities.

Automated summary

This study examines the erosion and landsliding phenomenon in the Kumaun Himalaya region using morphometric analysis and statistical methods, providing insights into potentially active zones for slope failures through quantitative geomorphometry.