Geomorphology, Natural Hazards and Environmental Changes

The research team investigates the potential to decipher extreme natural events (particularly landslides and floods) from their geomorphic signatures by integrating detailed field investigations with modern, rapidly evolving methods based on remote sensing and numerical simulations. We aim to determine when a given event occurred, how it transformed the landscape, and what consequences it carries for both humans and the environment. Geomorphic processes vary as a function of climatic conditions; therefore, our research also addresses Quaternary climate change, its influence on landscape evolution, and the implications of ongoing climatic shifts. At present, our work focuses primarily on large landslides and their link to climate changes (a sub-discipline centred on landslides) and on the morphological dynamics of river channels, including the consequences of channel adjustments for flood hazard (a sub-discipline of fluvial geomorphology). We also investigate the variability of geomorphic processes associated with historical mining works and industrialized landscapes (a sub-discipline focused on anthropogenic landscapes). We further advance precise dating techniques for geomorphic processes based on tree-ring analysis (the sub-discipline of dendrogeomorphology). Regionally, our work concentrates on Central Europe, although in recent years we have also conducted research in Azerbaijan, Patagonia, the eastern Mediterranean, and Antarctica. The long-established team at the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology maintains targeted research and publication activities, with strong outcomes in securing competitive research projects registered in the national CEP database. These research directions are also reflected in the topics addressed in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral theses within the Environmental Geography study program.

Research Teams and Staff Involved:

Landslides

Research Area Coordinator: prof. RNDr. Tomáš Pánek, Ph.D.

Fluvial Geomorphology

Research Area Coordinator: doc. RNDr. Tomáš Galia, Ph.D.

Dendrogeomorphology

Research Area Coordinator: prof. RNDr. Karel Šilhán, Ph.D.

Anthropogenic Landscapes

Research Area Coordinator: doc. RNDr. Jan Lenart, Ph.D.

Major projects over the last five years:

  • GAČR Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) 25-15609S (2025–2027): Hydrogeomorphological dynamics in response to climate change: impacts of successive floods on river channels in the Mediterranean. Principal Investigator: Tomáš Galia
  • Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR) SQ01010138 (2024–2028): Comprehensive analysis of large rivers and their tributaries in extensive protected areas from the perspective of conservation and revitalization of geodiversity and biodiversity. Principal Investigator: Jan Hradecký
  • Operational Programme JAČR CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004605 (2024–2028): Natural and anthropogenic geohazards. OU Investigators: Tomáš Pánek, Jan Hradecký, Tomáš Galia
  • Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) 23-07310S (2023–2025): The largest rock-mass landslides on Earth: why in arid Patagonia? Principal Investigator: Tomáš Pánek
  • NATO Project SPS G5907 (2022–2025): Prevention of Geo-Threats to Azerbaijan's Energy Independence. OU Investigator: Tomáš Pánek
  • Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) 22-17474S (2022–2024): Biogeomorphological interactions in meandering rivers across different spatiotemporal scales. Principal Investigator: Tomáš Galia
  • Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) 22-12522S (2022–2024): Microscopic anatomy of tree rings as a source of chronological information for optimizing landslide hazard assessment. Principal Investigator: Karel Šilhán
  • Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR) SS03010279 (2021–2023): Optimization of management of the lower Elbe River section with regard to the presence of habitat 3270 and improvement of hydromorphological conditions based on an interdisciplinary study. Principal Investigator: Jan Hradecký
  • Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) 19-160135 (2019–2022): Giant landslides in glacier forefields: the missing part of the story of the Patagonian Ice Shield and adjacent glacial lakes. Principal Investigator: Tomáš Pánek

Significant publications:

  • Galia, T., Poledniková, Z., Kapustová, V., Ruiz-Villanueva, V., Škarpich, V., 2025. Interannual spatial distribution and dynamics of large wood in a meandering river. Journal of Hydrology 659, 133302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133302
  • Galia, T., Ruman, S., Škarpich, V., 2025. Check dams matter: Six years of particle tracking experiment in a check-dam-managed and near-natural pool-riffle stream. CATENA 256, 109086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109086
  • Holušová, A., Poledniková, Z., Vaverka, L., Galia, T., 2023. Spatiotemporal dynamics and present perception of gravel bars in natural and regulated environments. Science of The Total Environment 892, 164711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164711
  • Kilnar, J., Pánek, T., Břežný, M., Winocur, D., Šilhán, K., Kapustová, V., 2024. Fringed Patagonian tableland: one of Earth’s largest and oldest landslide terrains. Earth Science Reviews 258, 104926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104926
  • Korup, O., Pánek, T., Břežný, M., 2025. Size estimates of Earth’s largest terrestrial landslides informed by topographic setting. Communication Earth & Environment 6, 629. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02614-5
  • Lenart, J., Kašing, M., Schuchová, K., Tichavský, R., 2025. 200 years of coupled relief disturbance in the heart of a former industrial city. Geomorphology 470, 109537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109537
  • Pánek, T., Svennevig, K., Břežný, M., Migoń, P., 2024. The occurrence, mechanisms and hazards of large landslides along tablelands. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 5, 686–700. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00587-1
  • Šilhán, K., 2024. Using anatomical tree growth responses to date landslide movements. Landslides 21, 2859-2871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-024-02324-7
  • Šilhán, K., De la Peña Guillén, K.A., Carlón Allende, T., Tsou, C-Y., Zhang, Y., 2024. Tree-ring eccentricity-based dating of landslide movements: defining a universal approach. Catena 234, 107576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2023.107576
  • Tichavský, R., 2023. Understanding hydrometeorological triggers of natural hazards through dendrogeomorphology: Methods, limitations, and challenges. Earth-Science Reviews 244, 104546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104546

Updated: 03. 06. 2026