Abstract
Debris flows in mountainous regions pose significant threats to human lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems. This study examines the morphology and morphometry of debris flow sites in the Ile Alatau Range of the Northern Tien Shan (Kazakhstan) using satellite imagery. Debris flow sites were mapped through manual interpretation of Google Earth images in the most debris flow-prone basin of the Ulken Almaty River. Morphometric characteristics of 86 debris flow sites were analysed using ArcGIS software. The sites range in area from 0.2 to 4.7 km² and in length from 640 to 7,500 m, both showing strongly positively skewed distributions. Mean slopes range from 6° to 33° with negative skewness, while elevations range from 1,300 to 3,860 m a.s.l., with approximately 70% of sites located between 2,000 and 3,500 m a.s.l. The study demonstrates the high effectiveness of remote sensing methods for debris flow mapping and inventorying, providing essential data for hazard assessment and the development of protective measures applicable to other mountainous regions of Central Asia.