What controls the distribution of post-Little Ice Age landslides around the South Patagonian Icefield?

Abstract Understanding landslide distribution in deglaciated mountain regions is essential for evaluating landscape evolution and geohazard risk. We present an orogen-scale assessment of landslide density along the recently deglaciated margins of the Southern Patagonian Icefield (SPI) following the Little Ice Age. A regional inventory of 1691 landslides—91% of which are shallow—was mapped using high-resolution satellite imagery. Environmental variables were extracted from landslide and non-landslide areas and statistically evaluated as predictors of landslide density. Landslides cluster predominantly in the western and southern sections of the SPI, with the highest concentration in the central part and a secondary cluster in the northwestern area. Precipitation, fault density, and uplift emerged as the dominant controls, while lithology, permafrost, and glacier retreat exert weaker, context-dependent influences. Uplift exhibited a complex and negative correlation with landslide density, reflecting unique tectonic and geomorphic processes in the SPI. Analyses revealed distinctions in variable importance when comparing landslide and non-landslide areas, underscoring the value of integrating correlation-based and predictive approaches. Our models showed strong predictive performance, indicating that landslide distribution in the SPI is governed by coupled effects of climate, deglaciation, and tectonic activity. These findings provide new insights into geomorphic responses to glacier retreat and offer a framework for improved hazard assessment in rapidly changing mountain regions.