Landslides

The U.S. Geological Survey provides grants to local, state, territorial, and Tribal governments for risk communication, planning and coordination, mapping and assessments, and data collection of landslide hazards to develop information, knowledge, and methods that leads to the reduction of losses from landslides and increases public safety.

The San Lorenzo monitoring station is located in a moderately vegetated area underlain by Cretaceous volcaniclastic rock.

The Utuado monitoring station is located directly upslope from the Lake Caonillas dam. It is vegetatively unique compared to the other stations in that the surrounding vegetation is mainly switchgrass, with sparse trees. The steep slopes at the station are underlain by Cretaceous granodiorite and quartz-diorite.

Mariaco, Puerto Rico Landslide Monitoring Station. The Maricao monitoring site is the westernmost station within the network. The station is situated in a heavily vegetated area underlain by Tertiary-Cretaceous volcanic rock.

The Lares monitoring site is in the western portion of the island. The site is heavily vegetated with steep slopes and relatively low elevation and is underlain by Tertiary-Cretaceous volcaniclastic rock.

The Ciales municipality, of which the monitoring station is situated in the northeast portion, is located in the center of Puerto Rico’s middling mountain range, the Cordillera Central. The station is located in an area of moderate vegetation, with moderate to steep slopes and underlain by Cretaceous volcanic rock.

The Cayey monitoring station is located in a heavily vegetated area in the mountains above the USGS Cayey geomagnetism observatory. The station is underlain by Cretaceous volcaniclastic rock.

At a relatively lower elevation, the Barranquitas monitoring site is in a heavily vegetated area underlain by Cretaceous volcaniclastic sandstone and siltstone.

The Adjuntas monitoring station is situated at a relatively high elevation area with steep slopes under thick vegetation. The station is underlain by Tertiary-Cretaceous volcanic rock.

Extreme rainfall during two atmospheric river events in January 2021 and January 2022 triggered a series of debris flows in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. The flows had significant impacts, including multiple highway closures and one fatality. This story map highlights rainfall data and observations of debris flow deposits by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)...

At the USGS Astrogeology Science Center we conduct research on Planetary Defense. Planetary Defense involves predicting potential impactors (asteroids, comets), and studying how to deflect or divert them, as well as the potential effects of an impact. Effects include short-term effects such as blast damage, but also long-term effects such as climate and social impacts.

Interactive U.S. Landslide Data Maps with access to GIS data.