Articles | Volume 9, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-823-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-823-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
02 Aug 2021
Research article |
| 02 Aug 2021
| 02 Aug 2021
Pulsed carbon export from mountains by earthquake-triggered landslides explored in a reduced-complexity model
Thomas Croissant
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United
Kingdom
Robert G. Hilton
Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United
Kingdom
Gen K. Li
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Jamie Howarth
School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria
University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
Jin Wang
Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United
Kingdom
now at: SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
Erin L. Harvey
Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United
Kingdom
now at: School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
Philippe Steer
Universite de Rennes 1, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes – UMR 6118,
35000 Rennes, France
Alexander L. Densmore
Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, United
Kingdom
Viewed
Total article views: 3,592 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 23 Nov 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,664 | 848 | 80 | 3,592 | 142 | 183 |
- HTML: 2,664
- PDF: 848
- XML: 80
- Total: 3,592
- BibTeX: 142
- EndNote: 183
Total article views: 2,612 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 02 Aug 2021)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,004 | 534 | 74 | 2,612 | 126 | 169 |
- HTML: 2,004
- PDF: 534
- XML: 74
- Total: 2,612
- BibTeX: 126
- EndNote: 169
Total article views: 980 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 23 Nov 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 660 | 314 | 6 | 980 | 16 | 14 |
- HTML: 660
- PDF: 314
- XML: 6
- Total: 980
- BibTeX: 16
- EndNote: 14
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 3,592 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,243 with geography defined
and 349 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 2,612 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,460 with geography defined
and 152 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 980 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 783 with geography defined
and 197 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Ideas and perspectives: Sensing energy and matter fluxes in a biota-dominated Patagonian landscape through environmental seismology – introducing the Pumalín Critical Zone Observatory C. Mohr et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1583-2024
- Measuring the grain‐size distributions of mass movement deposits E. Harvey et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5337
- Landslide-Induced Weathering in Tectonically Active Mountains: Evidence From Dissolved Radiogenic Uranium Isotopes L. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.825818
- Effects of Landslides on Terrestrial Carbon Stocks With a Coupled Geomorphic‐Biologic Model: Southeast Alaska, United States A. Booth et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG007297
- Residence Time of Over‐Steepened Rock Masses in an Active Mountain Range G. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097319
- The role of earthquakes and storms in the fluvial export of terrestrial organic carbon along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau: A biomarker perspective J. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.1090983
- Multi-isotopic constraints on the impacts of landslide on weathering and erosion in an active mountain range L. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118527
- Carbon sequestration in a typical mountain lake associated with earthquakes, floods, droughts, and human activities in southern Altay during the late Holocene F. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112554
- Long term carbon export from mountain forests driven by hydroclimate and extreme event driven landsliding J. Howarth et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02382-2
- Restoration measures alter the regulation mechanism of soil respiration in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected area L. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114939
- Coseismic Debris Remains in the Orogen Despite a Decade of Enhanced Landsliding L. Dai et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095850
- Rapid revegetation after the Wenchuan earthquake offsets landslide-induced carbon losses C. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03314-4
- Preservation and transportation of large landslide deposits under decadal and millennial timescales in the Taiwan orogenic belt C. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108402
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Ideas and perspectives: Sensing energy and matter fluxes in a biota-dominated Patagonian landscape through environmental seismology – introducing the Pumalín Critical Zone Observatory C. Mohr et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1583-2024
- Measuring the grain‐size distributions of mass movement deposits E. Harvey et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5337
- Landslide-Induced Weathering in Tectonically Active Mountains: Evidence From Dissolved Radiogenic Uranium Isotopes L. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.825818
- Effects of Landslides on Terrestrial Carbon Stocks With a Coupled Geomorphic‐Biologic Model: Southeast Alaska, United States A. Booth et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG007297
- Residence Time of Over‐Steepened Rock Masses in an Active Mountain Range G. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097319
- The role of earthquakes and storms in the fluvial export of terrestrial organic carbon along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau: A biomarker perspective J. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.1090983
- Multi-isotopic constraints on the impacts of landslide on weathering and erosion in an active mountain range L. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118527
- Carbon sequestration in a typical mountain lake associated with earthquakes, floods, droughts, and human activities in southern Altay during the late Holocene F. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112554
- Long term carbon export from mountain forests driven by hydroclimate and extreme event driven landsliding J. Howarth et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02382-2
- Restoration measures alter the regulation mechanism of soil respiration in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected area L. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114939
- Coseismic Debris Remains in the Orogen Despite a Decade of Enhanced Landsliding L. Dai et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095850
- Rapid revegetation after the Wenchuan earthquake offsets landslide-induced carbon losses C. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03314-4
- Preservation and transportation of large landslide deposits under decadal and millennial timescales in the Taiwan orogenic belt C. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108402
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 11 Jun 2026
Short summary
In mountain ranges, earthquake-derived landslides mobilize large amounts of organic carbon (OC) by eroding soil from hillslopes. We propose a model to explore the role of different parameters in the post-seismic redistribution of soil OC controlled by fluvial export and heterotrophic respiration. Applied to the Southern Alps, our results suggest that efficient OC fluvial export during the first decade after an earthquake promotes carbon sequestration.
In mountain ranges, earthquake-derived landslides mobilize large amounts of organic carbon (OC)...
