Landslide Susceptibility on Mars: Application of Frequency Ratio Method

Landslides are recognised as one of the most widespread mass-wasting processes that modify the surface of Mars. Understanding the distribution of these processes is essential for identifying areas where slope failure conditions may occur and the factors that most strongly influence their occurrence. This study utilises a Frequency Ratio (FR) landslide susceptibility method to a landslide inventory in Valles Marineris, considering three landslide types. The analysis involves conditioning factors derived from topographic and structural data. The results underline the influential role of morphometric parameters in controlling landslide occurrence, with steep slope classes and high local relief values showing the strongest positive correlations with landslide distribution. The predictive performance of the susceptibility models is supported by Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of 0.82 for Slumps, 0.78 for Rock Avalanches, and 0.75 for Debris Flows, indicating good model reliability. Proximity to tectonic structures appears to contribute to landslide occurrence, suggesting that structurally weakened rock masses or past seismic activity may influence slope instability in the region. Overall, the results display the potential of statistical landslide susceptibility approaches for analysing slope instability processes in planetary environments and provide a new toolkit for future investigations on Mars.