Hydrologic Perspective on Landslide Dams

Landslide dams and the associated lakes are significant elements in fluvial geomorphology and pose considerable geohazards, particularly due to the potential for catastrophic outburst floods. While the failure or persistence of these natural dams has been the subject of extensive research, hazard assessments traditionally emphasize geomorphological and geotechnical factors—such as dam geometry, material, and valley setting—often at the expense of hydrological processes. Recent advances in empirical and data-driven methods have revealed the crucial, yet underrecognized, influence of dynamic hydrological variables. Flood pulse timing, rainfall events, snow or glacier melt, and catchment hydrology contribute fundamentally to both lake filling dynamics and the likelihood of dam breach, but comprehensive analyses directly incorporating these factors remain rare. Moreover, high mountain settings, where most landslide dams occur, are marked by scarce and fragmented hydro-meteorological records, exacerbating knowledge gaps and limiting the reliability of traditional assessments.This Research Topic aims to fill these critical gaps by encouraging studies that centre hydrological data—both observed and remotely sensed—in the evaluation of landslide dam stability and downstream hazard. Central objectives include assessing how improved hydrological information can reduce uncertainties in failure probability estimates, exploring methods for integrating novel hydro-climatic proxies, and examining the effects of climate-driven hydrologic change on landslide dam behaviour. Specific research questions include: How can remote sensing, reanalysis data, and model simulations better characterize inflows and water balance in data-deficient mountain catchments? Which hydrological factors most strongly mediate dam stability, and how do their interactions with geomorphological variables alter risk? By fostering interdisciplinary work, the goal is to create a nuanced understanding that supports more robust and actionable hazard assessment frameworks.The scope of this Research Topic is limited to the hydrological analysis of landslide dams, with an emphasis on methodologies, proxies, and model approaches that improve hazard assessment in ungauged or data-scarce environments. It excludes studies focused solely on dam mechanics absent hydrological context. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Development and validation of hydrology-based indices or proxies for dam stability and lake persistence• Application of remote sensing and reanalysis data to the monitoring of landslide lakes and dam inflows• Integrative hydro-geo-mechanical modeling frameworks and their application to case studies or inventories• Data-driven, physically based, and machine learning approaches for predicting dam failure linked to hydrological triggers• The implications of climate change and shifting hydro-climatic regimes on the frequency and magnitude of landslide dam outburst floods• Strategies for hazard mitigation, early warning, and risk reduction based on dynamic hydrologic insightsAppendix: Article types considered include original research articles, reviews, perspective papers, and statistical or case study analyses that advance the understanding of hydrological controls on landslide dam hazard. Topic editors: Roberto Greco, Pasquale Marino, Emilia Damiano, Roy Sidle Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79903/hydrologic-perspective-on-landslide-dams