A recent study led by the Geohazard Research Team examined the impact of atmospheric rivers on the landslides triggered by the February 6, 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes. The study was published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment last week.
Figure 1: The peak ground acceleration (PGA) map illustrates the areas most affected by strong shaking during the earthquakes. The large-scale atmospheric river map highlights the role of these systems in the regional moisture transport, and their connection to cascading disasters.
The research documented how the 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes along the East Anatolian Fault triggered thousands of landslides, and 36 days later, an exceptionally strong atmospheric river delivered up to 183 mm of precipitation within 20 hours, leading to additional landslides, debris flows, and flooding. These secondary hazards disrupted recovery operations, affected temporary settlements, and caused additional fatalities.
Figure 2: The maps illustrate the distribution of landslides triggered by the February 6 earthquakes and the extent of extreme rainfall associated with the atmospheric river. Additionally, field photographs document the post-earthquake landslides and their evolution over time.
This study demonstrates how post-seismic extreme precipitation associated with atmospheric rivers influence landslide dynamics, offering new insights into post-earthquake disaster management. The findings highlight the need for a better understanding of cascading hazards and emphasize the importance of integrating seismic and atmospheric extremes into rapid hazard assessment protocols to improve preparedness and response strategies for future disasters.
The full study can be accessed at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02111-9