The Art of Landslides: How Stochastic Mass Wasting Shapes Topography and Influences Landscape Dynamics

Bedrock landslides shape topography and mobilize large volumes of sediment. Yet, interactions between landslide-produced sediment fluvial systems that together govern large-scale landscape evolution are not well understood. To explain morphological patterns observed in steep, landslide-prone terrain we explicitly model stochastic landsliding associated dynamics. The accounts for several common features such as slope frequency distributions include values excess regional stability limits, quasi-planar hillslopes decorated with straight, closely spaced channel-like features, accumulation valley networks rather than on hillslopes. Stochastic strongly affects the magnitude timing supply to system. We show intermittent is ultimately reflected topography. At dynamic equilibrium, landslide-derived pulses generate persistent dynamism through formation breaching landslide dams epigenetic gorges force shifts channel positions. Our work highlights importance dynamics control landscape-scale response environmental change.