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Publications

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Evaluation of landslide hazards with ground-penetrating radar, Lake Michigan coast

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and boreholes were used to investigate a landslide-prone bluff at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the northeastern coast of Lake Michigan. Based on borehole observations, sediment underlying the area is homogeneous, consisting of well-sorted, medium to coarse sand. GPR penetrated up to 20 m deep in these sediments, revealing the late Quaternary stratigraphy
Authors
Walter A. Barnhardt, Bruce E. Jaffe, Robert Kayen

Real-Time Monitoring of Active Landslides

Landslides threaten lives and property in every State in the Nation. To reduce the risk from active landslides, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) develops and uses real-time landslide monitoring systems. Monitoring can detect early indications of rapid, catastrophic movement. Up-to-the-minute or real-time monitoring provides immediate notification of landslide activity, potentially saving lives an
Authors
Mark E. Reid, Richard G. LaHusen, William L. Ellis

Stratigraphic constraints on the timing and emplacement of the Alika 2 giant Hawaiian submarine landslide

Previous work has found evidence for giant tsunami waves that impacted the coasts of Lanai, Molokai and other southern Hawaiian Islands, tentatively dated at 100 + and 200 + ka by U-series methods on uplifted coral clasts. Seafloor imaging and related work off Hawaii Island has suggested the Alika phase 2 debris avalanche as the source of the ~ 100 ka "giant wave deposits", although its precise ag
Authors
Gary M. McMurtry, Emilio Herrero-Bervera, Maximilian D. Cremer, John R. Smith, Johanna Resig, Clark Sherman, Michael E. Torresan

Debris-flow deposition: Effects of pore-fluid pressure and friction concentrated at flow margins

Measurements of pore-fluid pressure and total bed-normal stress at the base of several ∼10 m3 experimental debris flows provide new insight into the process of debris-flow deposition. Pore-fluid pressures nearly sufficient to cause liquefaction were developed and maintained during flow mobilization and acceleration, persisted in debris-flow interiors during flow deceleration and deposition, and di
Authors
J. J. Major, R. M. Iverson

Debris-flow origin for the Simud/Tiu deposit on Mars

A late Hesperian smooth plains deposit on Mars interpreted as a debris flow extends more than 2000 km from Hydraotes Chaos, through Simud and Tiu Valles, and into Chryse Planitia. The Simud/Tiu deposit widens out to >1000 km and embays streamlined landforms and knobs made up of sedimentary and perhaps volcanic deposits that were carved by earlier channeling activity. Morphologic features of the Si
Authors
K. L. Tanaka

Slopewash, surface runoff and fine-litter transport in forest and landslide scars in humid-tropical steeplands, Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico

Rainfall, slopewash (the erosion of soil particles), surface runoff and fine-litter transport at humid-tropical steepland sites in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico (18??20' N, 65??45' W) were measured from 1991 to 1995. Hillslopes underlain by (1) Cretaceous tuffaceous sandstone and siltstone in subtropical rain (tabonuco) forest with vegetation recovering from Hurricane Hugo (1989),

Authors
M. C. Larsen, A. J. Torres-Sanchez, I.M. Concepcion

How useful is landslide hazard information? Lessons learned in the San Francisco Bay region

Landslides, worldwide and in the United States, are arguably the most costly natural hazard. Substantial landslide information is available, but much of it remains underutilized, as a disconnect exists among geologists, decision makers, and the public. The lack of a national landslide insurance policy exacerbates this situation and promotes litigation as the principal recourse for recouping landsl
Authors
D. G. Howell, D.W. Ramsey, E. E. Brabb

El Nino 1997-98; damaging landslides in the San Francisco Bay area

No abstract available.
Authors
Lynn M. Highland, J. W. Godt, D. G. Howell, W. Z. Savage

Landslides triggered by the winter 1996-97 storms in the Puget Lowland, Washington

Snowmelt and rainfall events triggered many landslides and debris flows in the Seattle, Washington, area during late December 1996 and January and March 1997. Landslides caused the deaths of at least four people, millions of dollars in damage to public and private property, lost revenues, traffic diversions, and other direct and indirect losses. Although shallow slides and debris flows were the mo
Authors
Rex L. Baum, Alan F. Chleborad, Robert L. Schuster

History of movement of the Clear Creek Forks landslide, Clear Creek County, Colorado

No abstract available.
Authors
W. Z. Savage, J. A. Coe, D. J. Varnes, R. K. Streufert, J. W. Godt