The Carpathian region and Transcarpathia in particular are one of the geologically active areas where landslide probability depends on a combination of factors: tectonic activity, lithological features, hydrogeological conditions, climate, and human activity. Landslides are one of the main natural hazards in this region. Their probability varies depending on specific geological and climatic conditions. Limiting spatial analysis of landslide processes to sustainable approaches within a specific tectonic zone constrains our understanding of when and how these hazardous geological processes are triggered and evolve. The article investigates the influence of various factors on landslide development in different tectonic zones of the Carpathian region using a multiple linear regression model. It was found that geomorphological conditions, such as mountainous terrain and steep slopes, are significant factors in landslide formation in all zones. Atmospheric precipitation in combination with flysch rocks contributes to the slumps of rock masses in the Chornohora, Porkulets, and other tectonic zones. The influence of fault tectonics and seismic activity is particularly pronounced in the Duklian, Chornohora, and Rakhiv nappes. The lithology of the underlying rocks, in particular clay and sandy-clay flysch, is an important factor in the formation of landslides in the Flysch Carpathians and the Transcarpathian trough. The analysis showed significant differences in landslide size depending on the geostructural regions, with block landslides predominating in the Flysch Carpathians and slip landslides in the Transcarpathian Trough. The regression model identified significant parameters for each zone. The coefficient of determination (R2) shows a strong explanation of the dependence between the factors. The collinearity test was performed to prevent correlated factors. The results confirm the influence of a number of natural factors on landslide formation in the region.
Purpose. This study investigates the seismicity of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany, focusing on the tectonically active Lower Rhine Embayment and the surrounding Rhenish lignite mining district. It aims to characterize spatial, temporal, and magnitude-related patterns of seismicity and to assess the influence of both natural and anthropogenic factors. Methodology. A catalog of 626 earthquake events recorded between 1970 and 2026 was obtained from an open-access database, including information on earthquake magnitude, focal depth, geographic location, and occurrence time. The study applies descriptive statistical analysis, GIS-based spatial statistics, and frequency-magnitude analysis. Nearest neighbor analysis and kernel density estimation were used to examine spatial patterns, while temporal variations and the Gutenberg-Richter relationship were analyzed to assess seismic trends. Results. The findings indicate that seismic activity in the study area is dominated by low-to-moderate magnitude earthquakes, with a mean magnitude of 2.73 and with focal depths predominantly within the upper crust. Most events occur at depths between 0 and 15 km, reflecting predominantly shallow seismic processes. Spatial analysis reveals a clustered distribution of earthquake epicenters, with a nearest neighbor index of 0.73, and kernel density estimation identifies several zones of elevated seismic activity. Temporal analysis reveals fluctuations in earthquake occurrence, alternating between periods of increased and reduced activity. The Gutenberg-Richter frequency-magnitude relationship exhibits a clear linear trend with a b-value of 1.019, indicating a predominance of low-magnitude events. Originality. This study integrates long-term seismic records with GIS-based spatial statistical methods to provide a comprehensive assessment of seismicity in North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighting the combined effects of tectonic structures and mining-induced activities. Practical Significance. The results contribute to a better understanding of regional seismic hazards and provide valuable for risk land-use and the of-related seismic hazards.
Seismic data recorded by the SEIS experiment onboard the InSight mission have shown that Mars is seismically active: over 1,300 events were detected and catalogued by the InSight Marsquake Service (MQS). The global seismic event rate has yielded sufficient seismic records to perform the first structure inversions of the planet. Mars is currently believed to lack active plate tectonics like Earth, and the seismic activity detected by InSight is instead driven by cooling and compression. A deeper understanding of these processes can only be achieved by studying the focal mechanisms of local events. With a single station, the mechanism can usually be resolved only for events of sufficiently high quality with known locations and a sufficiently accurate structural model. In this study, we present a method for a single station moment tensor inversion of only direct P- and S-waveforms, which are significantly less sensitive compared to reflected and converted waves, to still insufficiently accurate modeling of velocity contrasts and poorly constrained event locations on Mars, and therefore carry a much less distorted imprint of the source. Direct waves are isolated analytically, using a specially developed version of the matrix method for wave-field modeling. Testing of our method was conducted on two major events on Mars (S0235b and S1222a), with S1222a being the largest (magnitude MW 4.7) ever observed on Mars. The focal mechanism for S0235b appeared to be almost identical to that estimated by other authors, while the mechanism for S1222a was at least of the same type (reverse faulting) with the same dip and rake, but with strike rotated by 90 degrees. At the same time, the fits of the synthetic waveforms calculated for our version of the S1222a mechanism to the observed waveforms suggest that the mechanism is also acceptable. This is why we consider our results satisfactory and conclude that seismic moment tensor inversion using only direct waves recorded at only one station can still be useful in regions with low seismicity and an insufficient number of seismic stations, both on Mars and on Earth.
The purpose of the work is a comprehensive analysis of the causes, characteristics and consequences of the karst-collapse technogenic earthquake that occurred on September 30, 2017 at 00:46 local time (September 29, 2017 at 21:46 GMT) in the city of Stebnyk in the area of the Mine No. 2 of the Stebnyk MCE “Polymineral”, its analysis in connection with technogenically provoked dangerous geological processes (in particular, with the formation of karst sinkholes) at the Stebnyk potash mine (Ukrainian Precarpathians). Methodology. The research methodology combines a comprehensive analysis of seismic, geological and other data in the Stebnyk potash deposit area, including specifying the localization of local earthquake foci, estimating the parameters of seismic sources, using for this purpose developed approaches and methods, adapted known and specially created computer and GIS technologies and their variants, developed appropriate software tools. Results. The modern seismic activation (2014-2024) of the Boryslav-Stebnyk area is briefly traced. Considering the long-term (from the beginning of the 19th century) active extraction of oil and gas condensate in the Boryslav area, as well as potash ores in Stebnyk, local seismicity is apparently partly additionally technogenically provoked (induced). Seismic events in the area of Mine No. 2 of Stebnyk MCE “Polymineral” are defined as karst-collapse technogenic earthquakes in the mining area of this mine. Technogenically provoked dangerous geodynamic processes in the area are traced and important energy and kinematic parameters of technogenically provoked seismic events caused by them are estimated. Based on data on the karst-collapse earthquake of September 30 (29), 2017 in Stebnyk and on data on the velocity structure of the crust of west of Ukraine, we clarified the hypocenters of local seismic events in the Boryslav – Stebnyk area and we determined for it local kinematic corrections for seismic stations of the Carpathian Seismological Network of Ukraine and for a number of seismic stations in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Originality. For the first time, using data on the velocity structure of the Earth's crust in the Carpathian region of Ukraine, methods of refining the seismic events foci in the area of the cities of Boryslav – Stebnyk – Drohobych – Truskavets have been developed. With their use, as well as based on the results of determining the characteristic parameters of the foci of local seismic events, the technogenic karst-collapse nature of seismic events in the area of Mine No. 2 of the Stebnyk potash deposit has been unambiguously established and their important characteristics have been determined. Practical significance. The results of the research make it possible to clarify the nature of the processes and assess natural and technogenic geoecological risks for the Boryslav – Stebnyk – Drohobych – Truskavets area, in particular, in the area of Mine No. 2 of the Stebnyk potash deposit for development an optimized set of necessary engineering and technical measures to minimize these risks. The determined local kinematic corrections for seismic stations of the Carpathian Seismological Network of Ukraine and for seismic stations of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania provide a significantly more precise determination of the coordinates and depths of the foci of local seismic events in the Boryslav – Stebnyk area, both natural and technogenic in genesis.
This study investigates soil erosion and land degradation in the Soubella sub-watershed of the Hodna region, Algeria, an area shaped by dryland climatic conditions ranging from semi-arid to arid. To evaluate erosion risk, the MEDALUS (Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use) model was combined with GIS-based spatial analysis. Soil erosion represents a critical environmental challenge in water-limited regions, where harsh climate and human pressures intensify land degradation. The methodological approach relied on four indices: Soil Quality (SQI), Climate Quality (CQI), Vegetation Quality (VQI), and Anthropogenic Quality (AQI). These indicators were derived from remote sensing data, GIS tools, and field surveys, offering an integrated framework for assessing ecosystem vulnerability. The sub-watershed spans 1,837.33 km2, with elevations ranging from 376 to 1,871 m and an average slope of 19.02 m/km, indicating moderately rugged terrain. The semi-arid climate is characterized by high temperatures, scarce and irregular rainfall, and significant variability. At the Soubella dam site, the mean annual rainfall is only 289 mm, highlighting the climatic stress on soil and vegetation. The erosion sensitivity map revealed three categories: non-affected areas (27.5 %), sensitive areas (16.1 %), and highly sensitive areas (56.4 %). This pattern illustrates the combined influence of climate, relief, vegetation cover, and land use in driving erosion dynamics. The findings highlight the predominance of highly sensitive zones, underlining the fragility of dryland ecosystems and the need for preventive measures. By identifying erosionprone sectors, the research provides essential guidance for decision-makers to implement sustainable land management strategies that mitigate erosion risks and enhance resilience in the Hodna region.
