The complementary distribution of coseismic and slow-moving landslides along the transition between the Qinghai-Xizang plateau and Sichuan basin

Landslides accompanying earthquakes are essential in landscape evolution along active fault zones. However, most studies focus on the rapid, catastrophic coseismic landslides with surface scars; the role of slow-moving landslides and their relation with the coseismic landslides is poorly known. Combining radar interferometry, deep-learning network, and inventories of coseismic landslides, we show a clear complementary pattern between coseismic and slow-moving landslides distributed along the transition between the Qinghai-Xizang plateau and the Sichuan basin. Geomorphic analysis on areas dominated by coseismic and slow-moving landslides shows their distinct topographic fingerprints, suggesting that the coseismic landslides tend to occur on the top of the hill, while the slow-moving landslides erode the lower part of the slope. We infer that the coseismic landslides likely constrict the initiation and development of slow-moving landslides after large earthquakes by removing materials from slopes. Our results imply that the coseismic landslides may dominate the landscape feature close to active fault zones, where the lack of slow-moving landslides may indicate the historical occurrence of large-magnitude, landslide-prone earthquakes.