Coupling Mechanism Between Landform Evolution and Climate Feedback during Extreme Weather Events

Abstract

Extreme weather events play a crucial role in accelerating landform evolution and generating feedbacks to the climate system. This paper synthesizes pathways through which extreme events drive geomorphic processes, including erosion, sediment transport, and carbon release, and evaluates feedback mechanisms such as albedo change and hydrological disturbance. Drawing on multi-source observations, process-based models, and case studies, the review identifies nonlinear thresholds of landform response and quantifies feedback intensities. Findings demonstrate that extreme events can increase landform change rates by up to 20 times, while glacier retreat and permafrost thawing contribute significantly to carbon emissions. Moreover, cascading hazards such as landslides, debris flows, and flooding triggered by these events amplify their geomorphic and climatic consequences, often disrupting ecosystems and human infrastructure simultaneously. Future research should integrate multi-scale modeling with long-term observations to improve predictive capability, inform disaster risk management, and guide adaptation strategies under a warming climate where extremes are projected to intensify.