Landslides and debrisflow processes of the Mangyshlak Peninsula

Abstract

The zones of episodic, hydroclimatically-triggered high-mobility landslide and mudflow processes in Mangyshlak span multiple geomorphological settings. These include: The Ustyurt Escarpment and adjacent isolated “island” plateaus, foothill areas of the escarpment, peripheral zones of the peninsula’s low-mountain structures, coastal cliffs along the Caspian Sea, Flanks of large depressions within the low-lying plateaus. The most prominent landslide complexes occur along: Southeastern cliffs of the Karagiye Depression and Northern cliffs of the Tyub-Karagan Peninsula (particularly the massive Zhygylgan landslide complex). Primary mudflow activity concentrates in Western valley systems of Mangyshlak Peninsula and Northern valley networks draining into the Karagiye Depression. Orographically pronounced morphological complexes predominantly formed during the Middle Pliocene, as evidenced by Akchagylian deposits abutting Mangyshlak’s coastal formations. The episodic occurrence of highly dynamic landslide and debris flow processes spans several geomorphological settings in Mangyshlak.