A predictive model incorporating geomorphic factors for assessing the longevity of landslide-dammed lakes

Secondary sediment disasters caused by the failure of landslide-dammed lakes are often more severe than the primary landslide events, resulting in catastrophic damage to surrounding infrastructure and the environment. The lifespan of landslide-dammed lakes is a crucial factor in determining the success of disaster prevention and response measures. However, the locations of landslide-dammed lakes are often inaccessible due to disrupted transportation or damaged access roads, making it difficult to obtain real-time information. Being able to estimate the time of dam failure is essential for assessing disaster response and making informed decisions. In this study, we analyzed 30 cases of landslide-dammed lakes in Taiwan, classifying them based on the actual time of dam failure and extracting geomorphic factors from the dam's catchment area. Using discriminant analysis, we quantitatively described the lifespan of the lakes. The results indicate that geomorphic factors in the dam's catchment area can effectively predict the lifespan of landslide-dammed lakes, with a classification accuracy of 93.3%. Through this research model, it is possible to predict the time of dam failure for landslide-dammed lakes, serving as a reference for establishing disaster warning, landslide-dammed lake monitoring, and disaster prevention notification systems.