Landslide-Triggering Factors in Korucak Subbasin, North Anatolian, Turkey

Korucak Creek Basin is located within upper course of the Yeşilırmak River Basin and southern Middle Karadeniz (Black Sea) section which is known to have the potential of landslide and flood risk. The purpose of identification of landslide-triggering factors is to highlight the regional distribution of potentially unstable slopes and to guide decision makers for regional planning purposes. We assessed morphometric parameters for landslide-triggering factors of Korucak Creek Basin using GIS (Geographical Information System). These parameters are Stream Power Index (SPI) and Compound Topographic Index (CTI). Moreover, slope and elevation values of the basin were classified and superposed over the geologic map. Landslide locations were identified from topographic maps and verified with field observation. The total catchment area of the basin is about 55 km2. More than half of the total basin is covered by metamorphic rock types such as schist, which has high permeability and weakness against erosion and is one of the main causes of the landslides. The results show that the main triggering factors are slope and lithology. Thus, northern and western of the Korucak subbasin are under the highest-risk landslide areas.