TerraMosaic Daily Digest: Jan 13, 2026
Daily Summary
This compilation of 45 new papers on landslides and related hazards highlights the diverse and evolving landscape of research in this field. A significant portion of the research focuses on improving predictive capabilities through advanced modeling techniques. These include hybrid machine learning models for weather forecasting, earthquake frequency prediction, and debris flow simulation, as well as stochastic differential equation models for cyclone intensification. Remote sensing applications are prominent, with studies utilizing SAR data for flood monitoring, drone-borne GPR for peatland moisture dynamics, and multi-frequency microwave remote sensing for estimating subsurface water depth on the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Several papers address the impact of climate change, particularly freeze-thaw cycles, on slope stability and infrastructure in cold regions. Soil erosion and its impact on various environments are also a recurring theme, with studies focusing on semi-arid catchments, the Mediterranean region, and the Yellow River. Finally, several papers focus on specific landslide events and their characteristics, including the 2023 Jishishan earthquake and rock slope failures in the Spanish Pyrenees.
Key Trends
- Machine Learning Integration: Increased use of hybrid machine learning models (LSTM, Random Forests, SVMs, XGBoost) combined with traditional statistical methods (ARIMA, SARIMA) for improved forecasting of weather, earthquakes, and other hazard-related phenomena.
- Remote Sensing Advancements: Continued development and application of remote sensing techniques, particularly SAR and drone-based methods, for monitoring floods, soil moisture, and other environmental parameters relevant to landslide risk assessment.
- Cold Region Hazards: Growing focus on the impact of freeze-thaw cycles on slope stability, infrastructure, and material properties in cold regions, highlighting the vulnerability of these areas to climate change.
- Erosion and Sediment Transport: Significant research effort dedicated to understanding soil erosion processes, sediment transport dynamics, and their impact on water resources, land degradation, and landslide susceptibility.
Selected Papers
This digest features 45 selected papers from 2,380 papers analyzed across multiple journals. Each paper has been evaluated for its relevance to landslide research and includes links to the original publications.
1. Hybrid SARIMA LSTM Model for Local Weather Forecasting: A Residual Learning Approach for Data Driven Meteorological Prediction
Core Problem: Accurately forecasting long-term atmospheric variables is challenging due to the chaotic nature of atmospheric systems.
Key Innovation: A hybrid SARIMA-LSTM architecture employs a residual-learning strategy to decompose temperature into predictable climate and nonlinear weather components, enhancing long-horizon accuracy.
2. Learning a Stochastic Differential Equation Model of Tropical Cyclone Intensification from Reanalysis and Observational Data
Core Problem: Quantifying cyclone hazard is challenging due to limited dataset size and quality.
Key Innovation: A 10-term cubic stochastic differential equation model of Tropical Cyclone intensification is learned from data, depending on engineered environmental features.
3. Source-Free Domain Adaptation for Geospatial Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation
Core Problem: Semantic segmentation of 3D geospatial point clouds degrades due to domain shifts caused by variations in geographic patterns and data acquisition.
Key Innovation: A novel SFUDA framework, LoGo, with local class-balanced prototype estimation and global optimal transport-based distribution alignment, plus dual-consistency pseudo-label filtering.
4. Noise-Adaptive Regularization for Robust Multi-Label Remote Sensing Image Classification
Core Problem: Multi-label noise in remote sensing data, arising from thematic products or crowdsourcing, degrades classification performance.
Key Innovation: A noise-adaptive regularization method (NAR) that distinguishes between additive and subtractive noise, using confidence-based label handling and early-learning regularization.
5. MMLGNet: Cross-Modal Alignment of Remote Sensing Data using CLIP
Core Problem: Effectively fusing spectral, spatial, and geometric information from heterogeneous remote sensing modalities while enabling semantic-level understanding.
Key Innovation: A multimodal framework, MMLGNet, that aligns visual features from HSI and LiDAR with natural language semantics using CLIP via bi-directional contrastive learning.
6. Field documentation of coseismic landslides triggered by the 18 December 2023 Ms 6.2 Jishishan, Gansu earthquake in Northwestern China
Core Problem: Documenting and understanding the spatial distribution and failure mechanisms of co-seismic landslides triggered by the 2023 Jishishan earthquake.
Key Innovation: Detailed field surveys immediately after the earthquake to provide a comprehensive overview and understanding of landslide patterns and mechanisms, relating them to lithology, seismic response, terrain, hydrogeology, and human activities. This is the Editor's Choice paper for its immediate and comprehensive documentation of co-seismic landslides, providing crucial baseline data for future research and hazard mitigation.
7. Statistical and machine learning methods for multi-step earthquake frequency forecasting in indonesian regions
Core Problem: Improving earthquake frequency forecasting in Indonesian regions to mitigate damage using machine learning.
Key Innovation: A hybrid model combining machine learning (Random Forests, SVMs, XGBoost, LSTM) with ARIMA for multi-step forecasting, demonstrating superior predictive capability compared to individual models.
8. Channel debris from landslides serves as the primary material source for debris flows in the arid Daheba Basin, Northeast marginal Tibet Plateau
Core Problem: Debris flows are increasing in frequency in the Daheba Basin, but their sediment sources are poorly quantified.
Key Innovation: Quantifies the relative contributions of landslide-derived and channel-derived sediment in controlling debris-flow fan magnitude using high-resolution UAV-derived DEMs.
9. Process analysis of columnar dangerous rock mass collapse in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area based on 3D MPM
Core Problem: Predicting the full-process collapse dynamics of high-risk columnar rock masses in narrow-deep terrains is challenging.
Key Innovation: Simulates the collapse dynamics of a columnar rock mass with Material Point Method (MPM) and analyzes the collapse-diffusion-surge generation mechanisms.
10. Vulnerability of mountain road networks to rainfall-induced landslide hazards
Core Problem: Effective quantitative models for dynamically assessing mountain road networks' vulnerability under rainfall-induced landslide hazards (RILH) are lacking.
Key Innovation: Develops a Cascading Failure Model for Rainfall-Induced Landslide Hazard (CFM-RILH) and validates it via a case study of the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Road Network.
11. Particle size ratios and ice content effects on rock-ice avalanche propagation and deposition: Flume experiments and DEM simulations
Core Problem: Rock-ice avalanches in cold high-mountain regions pose severe hazards due to their high mobility, yet the quantitative controls of particle-size ratio and ice content remain insufficiently constrained.
Key Innovation: Investigates the coupled effects of particle size and ice content on rock-ice avalanche dynamics using inclined-flume experiments and Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations.
12. Erosion thickness distribution and occurrence of rainfall-induced mass wasting in over-steepened sidewalls of permanent gully
Core Problem: Mass wasting is a key geomorphic agent in permanent gully expansion, but its occurrence and rainfall threshold have been rarely documented.
Key Innovation: Observes rainfall-induced mass wasting events in two permanent gullies and explores their differences based on soil strengths, hydraulic properties, excess topographies, and theoretical rainfall amounts.
13. Stability analysis of soft-hard interbedded anti-inclined rock slope under rainfall based on deformation compatibility
Core Problem: Theoretical models for quantifying the stability of soft-hard interbedded anti-inclined slopes remain underdeveloped due to the complex force transfer mechanisms involved.
Key Innovation: Proposes a novel theoretical model for the stability analysis of soft-hard interbedded anti-inclined slopes under rainfall conditions, considering interlayer force transfer and strength degradation.
14. Impact of roadside water on sloped subgrade stability along the Qingzang Railway with two-phase closed thermosyphon and crushed rock revetment
Core Problem: Embankments of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway experiencing roadside water accumulation exhibit more pronounced engineering deteriorations.
Key Innovation: Reveals a novel damage mechanism: asynchronous freeze-thaw processes induce temperature gradients, which drive the migration of roadside water into the roadbed and are responsible for the cracking damage.
15. Identification of fracture mechanisms and potential instability modes in high-steep rock slopes using microseismic moment tensors: a case study
Core Problem: Identifying fracture mechanisms and potential instability modes in high-steep rock slopes.
Key Innovation: Using microseismic moment tensors to identify fracture mechanisms and potential instability modes in high-steep rock slopes.
16. An extended kinematic inventory, magnitude-frequency curves, and damage assessment of rock slope failures in the central Spanish Pyrenees
Core Problem: Characterizing rock slope failures and assessing damage in the central Spanish Pyrenees.
Key Innovation: Extended kinematic inventory and magnitude-frequency curves for rock slope failures, with damage assessment.
17. Switch on tunnel vision: Portable wind tunnels to understand and quantify aeolian processes
Core Problem: Understanding and quantifying aeolian processes.
Key Innovation: Using portable wind tunnels for aeolian process research.
18. Estimating the upper depth of subsurface water on the Greenland Ice Sheet using multi-frequency passive microwave remote sensing, radiative transfer modeling, and machine learning
Core Problem: Estimating subsurface water depth in the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Key Innovation: Combining multi-frequency microwave remote sensing, radiative transfer modeling, and machine learning.
19. The fully-automatic Sentinel-1 Global Flood Monitoring service: Scientific challenges and future directions
Core Problem: Global flood monitoring is challenging due to the need for automated, reliable, and rapid processing of large volumes of satellite data.
Key Innovation: A fully-automatic flood monitoring service using Sentinel-1 SAR data, addressing challenges in data processing, validation, and near-real-time operation.
20. A Spatially Masked Adaptive Gated Network for multimodal post-flood water extent mapping using SAR and incomplete multispectral data
Core Problem: Accurate and rapid mapping of floodwater extent is crucial for disaster response and mitigation, but it is often hindered by data limitations and the complexity of flood dynamics.
Key Innovation: A Spatially Masked Adaptive Gated Network (SMAGN) that effectively integrates SAR and incomplete multispectral data for improved post-flood water extent mapping.
21. Drone-borne ground-penetrating radar reveals spatiotemporal moisture dynamics in peatland root zones
Core Problem: Understanding moisture dynamics in peatland root zones is crucial for assessing slope stability and predicting potential landslides.
Key Innovation: Using drone-borne ground-penetrating radar to monitor spatiotemporal moisture dynamics in peatlands.
22. Development and application of a distributed hydrology and soil erosion model in a semi-arid catchment, China
Core Problem: Soil erosion in semi-arid catchments can lead to land degradation and increased risk of landslides.
Key Innovation: Development and application of a distributed hydrology and soil erosion model to assess soil erosion in a semi-arid catchment.
23. Methodological advancements in soil erosion: a meta-analysis of organic matter content and erosion in the Mediterranean region
Core Problem: Soil erosion in the Mediterranean region is a significant environmental problem, impacting land stability and increasing landslide risk.
Key Innovation: A meta-analysis of organic matter content and erosion in the Mediterranean region to advance soil erosion methodologies.
24. Decoupling effects of driving factors on sediment load in the middle reaches of the Yellow River
Core Problem: High sediment load in rivers can indicate soil erosion and potential slope instability in the surrounding areas.
Key Innovation: Analyzing the driving factors affecting sediment load in the Yellow River to understand soil erosion dynamics.
25. Historical influences of climate, vegetation and soil erosion on primary productivity of Huguangyan Maar Lake, southern China, documented by sedimentary phosphorus fractions for the past 1400 years
Core Problem: Understanding the long-term impacts of soil erosion on lake ecosystems and surrounding landscapes.
Key Innovation: Using sedimentary phosphorus fractions to reconstruct historical soil erosion and its impact on lake productivity.
26. Cropland water erosion simulated by RUSLE2 with updated erosivity and, temperature and precipitation normals
Core Problem: Accurate assessment of cropland water erosion is crucial for sustainable agriculture and soil conservation.
Key Innovation: Using updated erosivity, temperature, and precipitation normals within the RUSLE2 model to simulate cropland water erosion.
27. Rill and interrill erosion on slopes in granite red soil quantified by using Sm and Eu as tracers: An indoor rainfall simulation study
Core Problem: Quantifying rill and interrill erosion processes on slopes with granite red soil is essential for understanding soil loss mechanisms.
Key Innovation: Employing Samarium (Sm) and Europium (Eu) as tracers in an indoor rainfall simulation to quantify rill and interrill erosion.
28. Contribution of herbaceous energy crops in maintaining runoff and reducing soil loss on the loess slopes under natural rainfall in the semi-arid area
Core Problem: Soil loss and runoff on loess slopes in semi-arid areas.
Key Innovation: Using herbaceous energy crops to reduce soil loss and runoff.
29. Data-driven natural gas pipeline reliability evaluation focusing on the mitigation effectiveness for frost heave in cold regions
Core Problem: Frost heave poses a significant threat to the reliability of natural gas pipelines in cold regions.
Key Innovation: A data-driven approach to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies for frost heave on pipeline reliability.
30. Multi-Physical Response and Directional Cation-Moisture Migration in Frozen Clay under Saline Electro-Osmosis
Core Problem: Understanding the behavior of frozen clay under saline conditions is crucial for infrastructure stability in cold regions.
Key Innovation: Investigating the multi-physical response and directional cation-moisture migration in frozen clay under saline electro-osmosis.
31. A novel GPU-accelerated debris flow-turbidity currents transition model for simulating underwater sliding impacts on deformable pipelines using total and updated Lagrangian WCSPH method
Core Problem: Simulating the transition of debris flow to turbidity currents and their impact on underwater pipelines.
Key Innovation: GPU-accelerated debris flow model using WCSPH method for simulating underwater sliding impacts.
32. 3D fracture network and anisotropic permeability in Cenozoic red-bed mudstone under freeze-thaw cycles: A case of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau
Core Problem: Characterizing fracture networks in mudstone under freeze-thaw conditions.
Key Innovation: Analysis of 3D fracture networks and permeability evolution in red-bed mudstone under freeze-thaw cycles in the Tibetan Plateau.
33. Analysis of cracking behaviors of five clayey materials using 3D point cloud data
Core Problem: Analyzing cracking behavior in clayey materials.
Key Innovation: Using 3D point cloud data to analyze cracking behaviors of clayey materials.
34. Multi-physical modeling of climate-driven elasto-plastic deformation, stress redistribution, and water potential in desiccation-cracked soils of arid regions
Core Problem: Understanding climate-driven deformation in desiccation-prone soils.
Key Innovation: Multi-physical modeling of elasto-plastic deformation, stress redistribution, and water potential in desiccation-cracked soils of arid regions.
35. Soil desiccation cracking triggered by surface defects: Insight and mechanism based on strain/displacement analysis using DIC
Core Problem: Investigating the role of surface defects in soil desiccation cracking.
Key Innovation: Analyzing strain/displacement using DIC to understand the mechanism of soil desiccation cracking triggered by surface defects.
36. Mechanical behaviors and instability of rocks subjected to hydraulic progressive wetting: Acoustic emission and uniaxial compression experiments
Core Problem: Understanding the impact of hydraulic wetting on rock instability.
Key Innovation: Examining the mechanical behaviors and instability of rocks subjected to hydraulic progressive wetting using acoustic emission and uniaxial compression experiments.
37. Microscopic damage and deterioration of carbonaceous slate in cold region subjected to freeze-thaw cycles
Core Problem: Analyzing the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on carbonaceous slate.
Key Innovation: Investigating microscopic damage and deterioration of carbonaceous slate in cold regions subjected to freeze-thaw cycles.
38. Deterioration of flawed sandstone after freeze-thaw treatment considering frost heave pressure
Core Problem: Understanding the deterioration of sandstone due to freeze-thaw cycles.
Key Innovation: Analyzing the deterioration of flawed sandstone after freeze-thaw treatment, considering frost heave pressure.
39. Meso-progressive failure and damage constitutive model of fractured sandstone under uniaxial loading-unloading in freeze-thaw environments
Core Problem: Modeling the failure of fractured sandstone under freeze-thaw conditions.
Key Innovation: Developing a meso-progressive failure and damage constitutive model of fractured sandstone under uniaxial loading-unloading in freeze-thaw environments.
40. A comprehensive rock glacier inventory for the Peruvian Andes (PRoGI): dataset, characterization and topoclimatic attributes
Core Problem: Lack of a comprehensive rock glacier inventory for the Peruvian Andes, hindering permafrost evolution monitoring and water resource/risk management.
Key Innovation: Creation of the first comprehensive rock glacier inventory for Peru (PRoGI) with 2338 landforms mapped using satellite imagery, providing data on distribution, elevation, and topoclimatic attributes.
41. Quantifying uncertainty in flood predictions due to river bathymetry estimation
Core Problem: River depth is crucial for accurate flood modeling, but it is often unavailable, and estimation methods introduce errors that affect flood prediction accuracy.
Key Innovation: Quantifying flood-prediction uncertainty due to river bathymetry estimation errors, revealing that river width corresponds to the largest uncertainty, followed by flow and slope.
42. Global subsidence of river deltas
Core Problem: River deltas are subsiding globally, threatening infrastructure and populations.
Key Innovation: Uses interferometric synthetic aperture radar to map surface-elevation changes across 40 global deltas.
43. Widespread abyssal turbidites record megathrust earthquake-triggered landslides and coseismic deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone
Core Problem: Understanding the frequency and impact of megathrust earthquakes on submarine landslides.
Key Innovation: Abyssal turbidite analysis reveals earthquake-triggered landslides in the Cascadia subduction zone.
44. Comparative analysis of two models of progressive failure of slope
Core Problem: Modeling progressive failure in slope stability analysis.
Key Innovation: Comparison of elasto-plastic and complete process constitutive models for simulating landslide failure.
45. Analysis of dust pollution effect after blasting and dust removal parameters under hybrid ventilation in digging face
Core Problem: Reducing dust pollution after blasting operations in metal mine tunneling.
Key Innovation: Optimization of hybrid ventilation and dust removal parameters using Fluent software.