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Publications

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Surface deformation as a guide to kinematics and three-dimensional shape of slow-moving, clay-rich landslides, Honolulu, Hawaii

Two slow-moving landslides in Honolulu, Hawaii, were the subject of photogrammetric measurements, field mapping, and subsurface investigation to learn whether surface observations can yield useful information consistent with results of subsurface investigation. Mapping focused on structural damage and on surface features such as scarps, shears, and toes. The x-y-z positions of photo-identifiable p
Authors
R.L. Baum, J. Messerich, R. W. Fleming

Temperature, snowmelt, and the onset of spring season landslides in the central Rocky Mountains

Snow meltwater (snowmelt) that seeps into the subsurface is a major factor contributing to the development of landslides during the spring in mountainous areas of the Rocky Mountain region. An examination of historical temperature data in relation to spring season landslide occurrences reveals an association between the landslide events and intervals of rising temperatures that accelerate the prod
Authors
Alan F. Chleborad

Digital compilation of landslide overview map of the conterminous United States

This dataset consists of polygons enclosing areas of landslide incidence and susceptibility for the conterminous United States.
Authors
Jonathan W. Godt, Dorothy H. Radbruch-Hall

Debris-flow mobilization from landslides

Field observations, laboratory experiments, and theoretical analyses indicate that landslides mobilize to form debris flows by three processes: (a) widespread Coulomb failure within a sloping soil, rock, or sediment mass, (b) partial or complete liquefaction of the mass by high pore-fluid pressures, and (c) conversion of landslide translational energy to internal vibrational energy (i.e. granular
Authors
Richard M. Iverson, Mark E. Reid, Richard G. Lahusen

Predicting landslide vegetation in patches on landscape gradients in Puerto Rico

We explored the predictive value of common landscape characteristics for landslide vegetative stages in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico using four different analyses. Maximum likelihood logistic regression showed that aspect, age, and substrate type could be used to predict vegetative structural stage. In addition it showed that the structural complexity of the vegetation was great

Authors
R.W. Myster, J.R. Thomlinson, M. C. Larsen

Regional landslide-hazard evaluation using landslide slopes, Western Wasatch County, Utah

Landsliding has historically been one of the most damaging geologic hazards in western Wasatch County, Utah. Accordingly, we mapped and analyzed landslides (slumps and debris slides) in the area to provide an empirical basis for regional landslide-hazard evaluation. The 336 landslides in the 250-sq-mi (650-km2) area involve 20 geologic units, including Mississippian- to Quaternary-aged rock and un
Authors
M.D. Hylland, Mark Lowe

Debris-flow hazard map units from gridded probabilities

The common statistical practice of dividing a range of probabilities into equal probability intervals may not result in useful landslide-hazard map units for areas populated by equal-area cells, each of which has a unique probability. Most hazard map areas contain very large numbers of cells having low probability of failure, and as probability increases, the number of cells decreases in a non-lin
Authors
Russell H. Campbell, Richard L. Bernknopf

Hydraulic modeling of unsteady debris-flow surges with solid-fluid interactions

Interactions of solid and fluid constituents produce the unique style of motion that typifies debris flows. To simulate this motion, a new hydraulic model represents debris flows as deforming masses of granular solids variably liquefied by viscous pore fluid. The momentum equation of the model describes how internal and boundary forces change as coarse-grained surge heads dominated by grain-contac
Authors
Richard M. Iverson

Normalizing rainfall/debris-flow thresholds along the U.S. Pacific coast for long-term variations in precipitation climate

Broad-scale variations in long-term precipitation climate may influence rainfall/debris-flow threshold values along the U.S. Pacific coast, where both the mean annual precipitation (MAP) and the number of rainfall days (#RDs) are controlled by topography, distance from the coastline, and geographic latitude. Previous authors have proposed that rainfall thresholds are directly proportional to MAP,
Authors
Raymond C. Wilson