Global Soil Creep Potential Raster (GMSR-SC) v1.0

Raster File

GMSR_Soil_Creep_Potential_0_100.tif

Public Dataset URL

https://secure.engineeringdirector.com/public/map/GMSR_Soil_Creep_Potential_0_100

Product Overview

The Global Soil Creep Potential Raster (GMSR-SC) is a global geospatial dataset representing the relative susceptibility of soils and surficial materials to long-term downslope movement driven by gravity, moisture fluctuations, freeze–thaw activity, and gradual deformation processes.

Soil creep is one of the most widespread forms of ground movement and occurs when soil and weathered rock slowly migrate downslope over extended periods. Although movement rates are generally low, soil creep can produce cumulative impacts on infrastructure, foundations, pipelines, transportation corridors, retaining structures, and utilities.

The dataset identifies landscapes exhibiting environmental and geological conditions favorable for long-term soil creep and provides a continuous susceptibility score ranging from 0–100.

The product serves as a core component within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Applications include:

• Infrastructure planning
• Transportation corridor assessment
• Pipeline routing
• Utility planning
• Geohazard screening
• Environmental assessment
• Asset management
• Land-use planning
• Regional resilience planning
• Ground movement risk evaluation

Product Family

The Global Soil Creep Potential Raster (GMSR-SC) is one of five component products comprising the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Component products include:

• Landslide Susceptibility
• Soil Creep Potential
• Shrink–Swell Potential
• Subsidence Susceptibility
• Seismic Amplification

These component rasters may be used independently or within the integrated GMSR framework.

Product Status

Dataset Information

Raster Statistics

Interpretation

The observed maximum value of 78.02 indicates that no location globally achieved the theoretical maximum susceptibility score.

The standardized 0–100 display range is retained to ensure consistency across all GMSR component products and the composite GMSR framework.

Score Interpretation

Scores represent relative susceptibility to long-term soil creep processes and should not be interpreted as actual ground movement rates.

Visualization Standard

The official GMSR product family visualization standard is used.

The GMSR product family utilizes a standardized 0–100 visualization scale to ensure consistent interpretation across all component and composite products.

Individual raster datasets may not occupy the full 0–100 range; however, the visualization standard remains fixed to support cross-product comparison and portfolio-level analysis.

Display legends are standardized across the GMSR product family and may extend beyond the observed minimum and maximum raster values. Actual raster statistics are reported within the Dataset Information and Raster Statistics sections.

Methodology Summary

The Global Soil Creep Potential Raster evaluates susceptibility to long-term downslope soil movement using globally consistent datasets representing terrain, moisture conditions, climatic forcing, seasonal freeze–thaw activity, wet–dry cycling, and lithologic controls.

The model integrates seven primary predictor variables:

• Slope Gradient
• Local Relief
• Climate Wetness Index
• Root Zone Soil Moisture
• Freeze–Thaw Cycles
• Wet–Dry Cycles
• Lithologic Susceptibility

The weighted susceptibility framework includes:

• Slope Gradient (30%)
• Local Relief (15%)
• Climate Wetness Index (15%)
• Root Zone Soil Moisture (15%)
• Freeze–Thaw Cycles (10%)
• Lithologic Susceptibility (10%)
• Wet–Dry Cycles (5%)

All inputs are normalized to a common 0–100 susceptibility framework and combined to generate a globally standardized soil creep potential index.

The resulting raster represents relative susceptibility to long-term soil creep processes rather than measured rates of ground movement.

Input Variables

Slope Gradient

Derived from GEBCO global elevation data.

Steeper slopes generally exhibit increased downslope gravitational forces and are more susceptible to long-term soil creep.

Model Weight: 30%

Local Relief

Derived from GEBCO elevation data.

Areas exhibiting significant local elevation variation often experience enhanced gravitational instability and greater potential for soil creep.

Model Weight: 15%

Climate Wetness Index

Represents long-term climatic moisture availability.

Persistent wet conditions can weaken soil structure and promote gradual downslope movement.

Model Weight: 15%

Root Zone Soil Moisture

Derived from NASA FLDAS soil moisture products.

Higher soil moisture conditions increase soil weight and reduce shear strength, promoting creep processes.

Model Weight: 15%

Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Derived from global freeze–thaw climatology.

Repeated freezing and thawing contribute to frost creep and solifluction processes in cold regions.

Model Weight: 10%

Lithologic Susceptibility

Derived from a GLiM-based lithologic constraint framework.

Lithologies associated with weaker or more deformable materials receive elevated susceptibility values.

Model Weight: 10%

Wet–Dry Cycles

Represents recurring seasonal moisture fluctuations.

Repeated expansion and contraction of soils can contribute to gradual downslope movement.

Model Weight: 5%

Relationship to GMSR

The Soil Creep Potential Raster serves as a core component of the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR).

Product Lineage

This dataset is a component product within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework and contributes 20% of the final composite GMSR score.

GMSR Weighting

Validation

Validation Approach

Validation was performed through comparison with known regions exhibiting soil creep, solifluction, frost creep, and long-term slope deformation processes.

Model outputs were evaluated against expected geomorphic patterns associated with mountainous terrain, periglacial environments, humid uplands, and areas characterized by persistent moisture-driven slope movement.

Validation Summary

The raster demonstrates strong agreement with environments commonly associated with soil creep processes including:

• Appalachian Mountains
• European Alps
• Scandinavian Highlands
• Rocky Mountains
• Andes Mountains
• Himalayan Region
• New Zealand Highlands
• Periglacial Arctic Regions
• Japanese Mountain Systems
• Southern Chile

Validation was conducted at continental and global scales and is intended to support screening-level geospatial analysis rather than site-specific geotechnical investigations.

Spatial Distribution Characteristics

The Global Soil Creep Potential Raster exhibits elevated values in regions characterized by steep terrain, persistent moisture, seasonal freeze–thaw activity, and highly weathered soils.

Elevated susceptibility values are concentrated within:

• Mountain belts
• Periglacial regions
• Humid uplands
• High-relief terrain
• Areas experiencing repeated freeze–thaw cycles

Lower susceptibility values generally occur within:

• Arid deserts
• Flat lowlands
• Stable cratonic regions
• Dry interior continental environments

The absence of elevated scores in some regions should not be interpreted as absence of soil creep. Rather, it indicates comparatively lower susceptibility under the standardized global framework.

Source Datasets

• GEBCO Global Bathymetry and Elevation

• Global Lithological Map (GLiM)

• NASA FLDAS Root Zone Soil Moisture

• Climate Wetness Index Framework

• Global Freeze–Thaw Cycle Dataset (2020–2024)

• Global Wet–Dry Cycle Dataset (2020–2024)

Related Products

Primary GMSR Products

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility (0–100)

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility Class 1–7

GMSR Component Products

• Landslide Susceptibility

• Soil Creep Potential

• Shrink–Swell Potential

• Subsidence Susceptibility

• Seismic Amplification

Limitations

• Intended for screening and planning purposes.
• Not a substitute for site-specific geotechnical investigation.
• Does not predict actual creep rates.
• Does not estimate displacement magnitude.
• Does not account for engineered slope stabilization.
• Does not incorporate site-specific geologic investigations.
• Does not represent real-time conditions.
• Does not constitute an engineering design product.

Revision History

Source Citations

GEBCO

GEBCO Compilation Group.

The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

GLiM

Hartmann, J., & Moosdorf, N. (2012).

The new global lithological map database GLiM: A representation of rock properties at the Earth surface.

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems.

NASA FLDAS

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS).

Attribution

Joseph Mazzella

Nicole Mazzella

AtmosphericIQ LLC

Engineering Director, Inc.

Dataset Citation

Mazzella, J., Mazzella, N. (2026).

Global Soil Creep Potential Raster (GMSR-SC) v1.0.

AtmosphericIQ LLC / Engineering Director, Inc.

Version Information