The Dec. 4, 2017 Thomas fire, Southern California's largest wildfire on record, burned more than 280,000 acres across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties for nearly a month.
Jason Kean
My research focuses on the processes controlling debris-flow initiation and growth, particularly after wildfire, but also in unburned areas.
This research includes a field component that obtains direct measurements of debris flows in natural settings, a modeling component that seeks to explain the observations, and an applied component that focuses on assessment of debris-flow hazards. My previous research at the USGS focused on river mechanics, including bank erosion and the development of model-based approaches to gage streams and rivers.
Education and Certifications
University of Colorado, Ph.D., 2003, Civil Engineering
University of Colorado, M.S., 1998, Civil Engineering
Cornell University, B.S., 1994, Civil Engineering
Science and Products
Improving Postfire Debris-Flow Hazard Assessments In The Pacific Northwest Through Application Of Debris-Flow Models
Calwood Fire "Heil Ranch" Landslide Monitoring Site near Boulder, CO
Postfire Landslide Monitoring Station: "Chips" (2021 Dixie Fire) near Belden, CA
Postfire Landslide Monitoring Station: "Chambers" (2021 Dixie Fire) near Belden, CA
Advancing Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazard Science with a Field Deployable Mapping Tool
How Often Do Rainstorms Cause Debris Flows in Burned Areas of the Southwestern U.S.?
Postfire debris-flow hazards
2009 Station Fire, Dunsmore Canyon, Glendale, California
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
Rainfall and Landslides in Southern California
Inventory of debris flows in burned (2020-2022) and unburned (1995-2020) areas in the western Cascade Range of Oregon
Postfire erosion estimates for large California wildfires that occurred between 1984 and 2021
International compilation of peak discharge estimates of floods and runoff-generated debris flows, 1931-2023
Debris Flow, Precipitation, and Volume Measurements in the Grizzly Creek Burn Perimeter June 2021-September 2022, Glenwood Canyon, Colorado (ver. 1.1, October 2023)
Modeling data for burn severity of the East Troublesome and Grizzly Creek for integration with post-fire debris flow in the upper Colorado River basin, USA
Field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex, River, Camel, and Dolan Fires following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence
Field-verified inventory of postfire debris flows for the 2021 Dixie Fire following a 23-25 October 2021 atmospheric river storm and 12 June 2022 thunderstorm
Debris-flow and Flood Video Files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2019
Debris-flow and Flood Video Files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2015
Debris-flow and Flood Video Files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2016
Debris-flow video files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2017
Soil moisture monitoring following the 2009 Station Fire, California, USA, 2016-2019
The Dec. 4, 2017 Thomas fire, Southern California's largest wildfire on record, burned more than 280,000 acres across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties for nearly a month.
Geologists assess boulders displaced during the Montecito debris flow event on Jan. 9, 2018.
Geologists assess boulders displaced during the Montecito debris flow event on Jan. 9, 2018.
Swimming pool sign spray-painted to warn first responders and others to be careful around the potentially dangerous area.
Swimming pool sign spray-painted to warn first responders and others to be careful around the potentially dangerous area.
USGS geologists deployed to Santa Barbara County to support a geohazard assessment of the Montecito area
USGS geologists deployed to Santa Barbara County to support a geohazard assessment of the Montecito area
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in a small canyon above the Las Lomas debris basin in Duarte. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in a small canyon above the Las Lomas debris basin in Duarte. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera and laser stage gage to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in Van Tassel Canyon near Azusa. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera and laser stage gage to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in Van Tassel Canyon near Azusa. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
In 2014, the Silverado Fire burned approximately 4 km^2 in Orange County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow at the outlet of a small 0.6 km^2 basin within the burn area.
In 2014, the Silverado Fire burned approximately 4 km^2 in Orange County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow at the outlet of a small 0.6 km^2 basin within the burn area.
The USGS and its cooperators have installed debris-flow monitoring equipment in the largest drainage basin at Chalk Cliffs, CO. Data collection at this site supports research on the hydrologic factors that control debris-flow initiation, entrainment, and flow dynamics.
The USGS and its cooperators have installed debris-flow monitoring equipment in the largest drainage basin at Chalk Cliffs, CO. Data collection at this site supports research on the hydrologic factors that control debris-flow initiation, entrainment, and flow dynamics.
Postfire sediment mobilization and its downstream implications across California, 1984 – 2021
A robust quantitative method to distinguish runoff-generated debris flows from floods
Evaluating post-wildfire debris-flow rainfall thresholds and volume models at the 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, USA
Rainfall intensification amplifies exposure of American Southwest to conditions that trigger postfire debris flows
Evaluation of debris-flow building damage forecasts
Post-wildfire debris flows
How long do runoff-generated debris-flow hazards persist after wildfire?
Toward probabilistic post-fire debris-flow hazard decision support
Bedrock erosion by debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Implications for bedrock channel evolution
Forecasting the inundation of postfire debris flows
Runout model evaluation based on back-calculation of building damage
Predicting burn severity for integration with post-fire debris-flow hazard assessment: A case study from the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA
Science and Products
Improving Postfire Debris-Flow Hazard Assessments In The Pacific Northwest Through Application Of Debris-Flow Models
Calwood Fire "Heil Ranch" Landslide Monitoring Site near Boulder, CO
Postfire Landslide Monitoring Station: "Chips" (2021 Dixie Fire) near Belden, CA
Postfire Landslide Monitoring Station: "Chambers" (2021 Dixie Fire) near Belden, CA
Advancing Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazard Science with a Field Deployable Mapping Tool
How Often Do Rainstorms Cause Debris Flows in Burned Areas of the Southwestern U.S.?
Postfire debris-flow hazards
2009 Station Fire, Dunsmore Canyon, Glendale, California
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
Rainfall and Landslides in Southern California
Inventory of debris flows in burned (2020-2022) and unburned (1995-2020) areas in the western Cascade Range of Oregon
Postfire erosion estimates for large California wildfires that occurred between 1984 and 2021
International compilation of peak discharge estimates of floods and runoff-generated debris flows, 1931-2023
Debris Flow, Precipitation, and Volume Measurements in the Grizzly Creek Burn Perimeter June 2021-September 2022, Glenwood Canyon, Colorado (ver. 1.1, October 2023)
Modeling data for burn severity of the East Troublesome and Grizzly Creek for integration with post-fire debris flow in the upper Colorado River basin, USA
Field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex, River, Camel, and Dolan Fires following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence
Field-verified inventory of postfire debris flows for the 2021 Dixie Fire following a 23-25 October 2021 atmospheric river storm and 12 June 2022 thunderstorm
Debris-flow and Flood Video Files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2019
Debris-flow and Flood Video Files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2015
Debris-flow and Flood Video Files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2016
Debris-flow video files, Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, 2017
Soil moisture monitoring following the 2009 Station Fire, California, USA, 2016-2019
The Dec. 4, 2017 Thomas fire, Southern California's largest wildfire on record, burned more than 280,000 acres across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties for nearly a month.
The Dec. 4, 2017 Thomas fire, Southern California's largest wildfire on record, burned more than 280,000 acres across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties for nearly a month.
Geologists assess boulders displaced during the Montecito debris flow event on Jan. 9, 2018.
Geologists assess boulders displaced during the Montecito debris flow event on Jan. 9, 2018.
Swimming pool sign spray-painted to warn first responders and others to be careful around the potentially dangerous area.
Swimming pool sign spray-painted to warn first responders and others to be careful around the potentially dangerous area.
USGS geologists deployed to Santa Barbara County to support a geohazard assessment of the Montecito area
USGS geologists deployed to Santa Barbara County to support a geohazard assessment of the Montecito area
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in a small canyon above the Las Lomas debris basin in Duarte. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in a small canyon above the Las Lomas debris basin in Duarte. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera and laser stage gage to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in Van Tassel Canyon near Azusa. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
The June 2016 Fish Fire burned over 12 km^2 in Los Angeles County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera and laser stage gage to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow in Van Tassel Canyon near Azusa. This video shows the peak flow triggered by an intense rainstorm on January 20, 2017.
In 2014, the Silverado Fire burned approximately 4 km^2 in Orange County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow at the outlet of a small 0.6 km^2 basin within the burn area.
In 2014, the Silverado Fire burned approximately 4 km^2 in Orange County, California. After the fire, the USGS installed an automated rain-triggered camera to monitor post-wildfire flooding and debris flow at the outlet of a small 0.6 km^2 basin within the burn area.
The USGS and its cooperators have installed debris-flow monitoring equipment in the largest drainage basin at Chalk Cliffs, CO. Data collection at this site supports research on the hydrologic factors that control debris-flow initiation, entrainment, and flow dynamics.
The USGS and its cooperators have installed debris-flow monitoring equipment in the largest drainage basin at Chalk Cliffs, CO. Data collection at this site supports research on the hydrologic factors that control debris-flow initiation, entrainment, and flow dynamics.