Fact Sheets
Brief summaries of landslides science and research in plain language.
Related Content
Filter Total Items: 19
The 3D Elevation Program—Landslide recognition, hazard assessment, and mitigation support
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Program conducts landslide hazard assessments, pursues landslide investigations and forecasts, provides technical assistance to respond to landslide emergencies, and engages in outreach. All of these activities benefit from the availability of high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) elevation information in the form of light detection and ranging
Authors
Vicki Lukas, William J. Carswell, Jr.
Landslides in the northern Colorado Front Range caused by rainfall, September 11-13, 2013
During the second week of September 2013, nearly continuous rainfall caused widespread landslides and flooding in the northern Colorado Front Range. The combination of landslides and flooding was responsible for eight fatalities and caused extensive damage to buildings, highways, and infrastructure. Three fatalities were attributed to a fast moving type of landslide called debris flow. One fatalit
Authors
Jonathan W. Godt, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Rex L. Baum, Eric S. Jones, Edwin L. Harp, Dennis M. Staley, William D. Barnhart
Real-time monitoring of landslides
Landslides cause fatalities and property damage throughout the Nation. To reduce the impact from hazardous landslides, the U.S. Geological Survey develops and uses real-time and near-real-time landslide monitoring systems. Monitoring can detect when hillslopes are primed for sliding and can provide early indications of rapid, catastrophic movement. Continuous information from up-to-the-minute or r
Authors
Mark E. Reid, Richard G. LaHusen, Rex L. Baum, Jason W. Kean, William H. Schulz, Lynn M. Highland
Debris-Flow Hazards within the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States
Tropical storms, including hurricanes, often inflict major damage to property and disrupt the lives of people living in coastal areas of the Eastern United States. These storms also are capable of generating catastrophic landslides within the steep slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. Heavy rainfall from hurricanes, cloudbursts, and thunderstorms can generate rapidly moving debris flows that are a
Authors
Gerald F. Wieczorek, Benjamin A. Morgan
Southern California — Wildfires and debris flows
Wildland fires are inevitable in the western United States. Expansion of man-made developments into fire-prone wildlands has created situations where wildfires can destroy lives and property, as can the flooding and debris flows that are common in the aftermath of the fires. Fast-moving, highly destructive debris flows triggered by intense rainfall are one of the most dangerous post-fire hazards.
Authors
Southern California landslides-an overview
Southern California lies astride a major tectonic plate boundary defined by the San Andreas Fault and numerous related faults that are spread across a broad region. This dynamic tectonic environment has created a spectacular landscape of rugged mountains and steep-walled valleys that compose much of the region’s scenic beauty. Unfortunately, this extraordinary landscape also presents serious geolo
Authors
Rates of landsliding and cliff retreat along the Big Sur Coast, California— Measuring a crucial baseline
No abstract available.
Authors
Cheryl J. Hapke, Krystal R. Green
Landslide hazards: A national threat
Landslides occur and can cause damage in all 50 States. Severe storms, earthquakes, volcanic activity, coastal wave attack, and wildfires can cause widespread slope instability. Landslide danger may be high even as emergency personnel are providing rescue and recovery services.
To address landslide hazards, several questions must be considered: Where and when will landslides occur? How big will
Authors
Natural hazards on alluvial fans: The Venezuela debris flow and flash flood disaster
In December 1999, rainstorms induced thousands of landslides along the Cordillera de la Costa, Vargas, northern Venezuela. Rainfall on December 2-3 totaled 200 millimeters (8 inches) and was followed by a major storm (911 millimeters, or 36 inches) on December 14 through 16. Debris flows and flash floods on alluvial fans inundated coastal communities, caused severe property destruction, and result
Authors
Matthew C. Larsen, Gerald F. Wieczoreck, L. Scott Eaton, Benjamin A. Morgan, Heriberto Torres-Sierra
Peligros de deslizamientos [Landslide Hazards]
Deslizamientos, flujos de escombrera y desastres geológicos similares provenientes de volcanes ocurren alrededor del mundo. Cada año estos desastres causan billones de dólares en pérdidas y un sinnúmero de fatalidades y heridos. El primer paso para reducir los efectos dañinos causados por estos desastres es el conocimiento y educación acerca de ellos. El Servicio Geológico de los Estados Unidos se
Authors
Related Content
Filter Total Items: 19
The 3D Elevation Program—Landslide recognition, hazard assessment, and mitigation support
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Program conducts landslide hazard assessments, pursues landslide investigations and forecasts, provides technical assistance to respond to landslide emergencies, and engages in outreach. All of these activities benefit from the availability of high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) elevation information in the form of light detection and ranging
Authors
Vicki Lukas, William J. Carswell, Jr.
Landslides in the northern Colorado Front Range caused by rainfall, September 11-13, 2013
During the second week of September 2013, nearly continuous rainfall caused widespread landslides and flooding in the northern Colorado Front Range. The combination of landslides and flooding was responsible for eight fatalities and caused extensive damage to buildings, highways, and infrastructure. Three fatalities were attributed to a fast moving type of landslide called debris flow. One fatalit
Authors
Jonathan W. Godt, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Rex L. Baum, Eric S. Jones, Edwin L. Harp, Dennis M. Staley, William D. Barnhart
Real-time monitoring of landslides
Landslides cause fatalities and property damage throughout the Nation. To reduce the impact from hazardous landslides, the U.S. Geological Survey develops and uses real-time and near-real-time landslide monitoring systems. Monitoring can detect when hillslopes are primed for sliding and can provide early indications of rapid, catastrophic movement. Continuous information from up-to-the-minute or r
Authors
Mark E. Reid, Richard G. LaHusen, Rex L. Baum, Jason W. Kean, William H. Schulz, Lynn M. Highland
Debris-Flow Hazards within the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States
Tropical storms, including hurricanes, often inflict major damage to property and disrupt the lives of people living in coastal areas of the Eastern United States. These storms also are capable of generating catastrophic landslides within the steep slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. Heavy rainfall from hurricanes, cloudbursts, and thunderstorms can generate rapidly moving debris flows that are a
Authors
Gerald F. Wieczorek, Benjamin A. Morgan
Southern California — Wildfires and debris flows
Wildland fires are inevitable in the western United States. Expansion of man-made developments into fire-prone wildlands has created situations where wildfires can destroy lives and property, as can the flooding and debris flows that are common in the aftermath of the fires. Fast-moving, highly destructive debris flows triggered by intense rainfall are one of the most dangerous post-fire hazards.
Authors
Southern California landslides-an overview
Southern California lies astride a major tectonic plate boundary defined by the San Andreas Fault and numerous related faults that are spread across a broad region. This dynamic tectonic environment has created a spectacular landscape of rugged mountains and steep-walled valleys that compose much of the region’s scenic beauty. Unfortunately, this extraordinary landscape also presents serious geolo
Authors
Rates of landsliding and cliff retreat along the Big Sur Coast, California— Measuring a crucial baseline
No abstract available.
Authors
Cheryl J. Hapke, Krystal R. Green
Landslide hazards: A national threat
Landslides occur and can cause damage in all 50 States. Severe storms, earthquakes, volcanic activity, coastal wave attack, and wildfires can cause widespread slope instability. Landslide danger may be high even as emergency personnel are providing rescue and recovery services.
To address landslide hazards, several questions must be considered: Where and when will landslides occur? How big will
Authors
Natural hazards on alluvial fans: The Venezuela debris flow and flash flood disaster
In December 1999, rainstorms induced thousands of landslides along the Cordillera de la Costa, Vargas, northern Venezuela. Rainfall on December 2-3 totaled 200 millimeters (8 inches) and was followed by a major storm (911 millimeters, or 36 inches) on December 14 through 16. Debris flows and flash floods on alluvial fans inundated coastal communities, caused severe property destruction, and result
Authors
Matthew C. Larsen, Gerald F. Wieczoreck, L. Scott Eaton, Benjamin A. Morgan, Heriberto Torres-Sierra
Peligros de deslizamientos [Landslide Hazards]
Deslizamientos, flujos de escombrera y desastres geológicos similares provenientes de volcanes ocurren alrededor del mundo. Cada año estos desastres causan billones de dólares en pérdidas y un sinnúmero de fatalidades y heridos. El primer paso para reducir los efectos dañinos causados por estos desastres es el conocimiento y educación acerca de ellos. El Servicio Geológico de los Estados Unidos se
Authors