biostudies-literatureDing MFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNational key research and development program of China11689https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7366674biostudies-literatureUnknown10(1)The generation, formation, and development of debris flow are closely related to the vertical climate, vegetation, soil, lithology and topography of the mountain area. Taking in the upper reaches of Min River (the Upper Min River) as the study area, combined with GIS and RS technology, the Geo-detector (GEO) method was used to quantitatively analyze the respective influence of 9 factors on debris flow occurrence. We identify from a list of 5 variables that explain 53.92%% of the total variance. Maximum daily rainfall and slope are recognized as the primary driver (39.56%) of the spatiotemporal variability of debris flow activity. Interaction detector indicates that the interaction between the vertical differentiation factors of the mountainous areas in the study area is nonlinear enhancemeScientific reportsRespective influence of vertical mountain differentiation on debris flow occurrence in the Upper Min River, China.PMC7366674Grant No. 2018YFC1505402Grant No. 2682019CX19Yang GHuang TZheng HDing MfalseRespective influence of vertical mountain differentiation on debris flow occurrence in the Upper Min River, China.The generation, formation, and development of debris flow are closely related to the vertical climate, vegetation, soil, lithology and topography of the mountain area. Taking in the upper reaches of Min River (the Upper Min River) as the study area, combined with GIS and RS technology, the Geo-detector (GEO) method was used to quantitatively analyze the respective influence of 9 factors on debris flow occurrence. We identify from a list of 5 variables that explain 53.92%% of the total variance. Maximum daily rainfall and slope are recognized as the primary driver (39.56%) of the spatiotemporal variability of debris flow activity. Interaction detector indicates that the interaction between the vertical differentiation factors of the mountainous areas in the study area is nonlinear enhanceme2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Jul2025-05-29T20:51:35.462Z2020-10-29T09:16:02ZS-EPMC73666743267814910.1038/s41598-020-68590-2