Acta Carp. Occ. 17: 157-172, 2026 | https://doi.org/10.62317/aco.2026.011

Influence of geological and morphometric conditions on the size of landslides in a selected transect of the Outer Western Carpathians

Sára Němcová1
1 TEREBO s.r.o., 4. května 212, CZ-755 01 Vsetín, Česká republika


The southeastern part of the Czech Republic is formed by the Flysch Belt of the Outer Western Carpathians, which stretches from the southwestern borders with Austria and continues along the Czech-Slovak border northeastward to Poland. Although knowledge in the field of slope deformations is crucial for understanding relief evolution, studies addressing the quantification of the bedrock‘s influence on landslide genesis remain scarce. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of the flysch bedrock on the size and spatial distribution of landslides within the Magura Group of Nappes of the Outer Western Carpathians, while complementarily considering the Silesian Unit of the Outer Group of Nappes. For the purpose of this research, a north-south oriented swath profile measuring 22 × 3 km was analyzed in the southeastern part of the Vsetín District. This transect runs from the Makyta peak (923 m a.s.l.) to the town of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, intersecting the Rača Unit of the Magura Group of Nappes, and marginally the Silesian Unit of the Outer Group. The influence of the flysch bedrock on the size and distribution of landslides was assessed based on the analysis of the DTM 5G, field reconnaissance, the Geological Strength Index , and Spearman‘s rank correlation analysis. Using ArcGIS Pro, maps of selected morphometric characteristics were compiled utilizing the DTM 5G and a landslide database. Subsequently, using zonal statistics, parameters such as valley network density, slope inclination, and elevation were calculated. A significant correlation was recorded particularly between valley network density and relief amplitude, as well as the relationship of relief amplitude to the thickness of sandstone beds and their proportional representation. Due to the uneven distribution of data across individual lithostratigraphic units, the Geological Strength Index analysis method lost its relevance given the lack of data within the selected transect; instead, mapping resistant sandstone beds based on the DTM 5G proved to be a more suitable approach. The obtained outputs were subjected to correlation analysis, which suggests that extensive slope deformations tend to occur in a terrain with lower vertical dissection and gentle slopes featuring spatially extensive resistant beds, whereas areas with higher vertical dissection and steep slopes are characterized by smaller landslides. The analysis further confirmed significant interrelations among the predisposing factors themselves (slope inclination and elevation, or slope inclination and relief amplitude).

Keywords: DMR5G, geology, GSI, landslides, Magura Nappe, Outer Western Carpathians, SWATH profile analysis

Received: January 22, 2026; Revised: May 5, 2026; Accepted: June 2, 2026; Published online: May 5, 2026  Show citation

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Němcová, S. (2026). Influence of geological and morphometric conditions on the size of landslides in a selected transect of the Outer Western Carpathians. Acta Carpathica Occidentalis, 17, Article 157-172. https://doi.org/10.62317/aco.2026.011
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