Gravity Never Sleeps - Landslide Science and Risk Reduction
By Jonathan Godt, USGS Landslide Hazards Program Coordinator
Learn About:
Jonathan Godt
Jonathan is the Program Coordinator for Landslide Hazards and leads the only federal program dedicated to landslide science and risk reduction.
As the Program Coordinator for Landslide Hazards, I am the principal voice for USGS landslide science for the public, media, Congress, states, and other partners. I am responsible for the scientific direction and priorities of the program and oversee its interactions with USGS Science Centers. I began my career with the USGS as a graduate student and until 2014 was a Research Physical Scientists focusing on understanding the physical processes controlling landslide initiation. I have led several technical assistance teams responding to disasters both domestically and abroad, helping inform emergency management and other decisions. I have acted in several other leadership positions in the Natural Hazards Mission Area.
Science and Products
Landslide External Grants
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.
Preliminary Landslide Assessments
The USGS seeks to provide effective situational awareness about long-term and ongoing hazardous events to improve emergency response, inform the public, and minimize societal disruption. Large, highly mobile landslides generate seismic signals that can be detected by seismic monitoring networks and leave scars and deposits that can be detected from high-resolution remote-sensing imagery. Following...
Preliminary Analysis of Satellite Imagery and Seismic Observations of the Nuugaatsiaq Landslide and Tsunami, Greenland
Disclaimer This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely science to assess ongoing hazards. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized...
Preliminary Landslide Susceptibility Maps and Data for Hawaii
Landslide Susceptibility Data and Maps provide tools for hazard assessment prior to an event that may cause landslides.
Portland, Oregon
Landslides in the West Hills of Portland pose a hazard to people and property.
Knife Ridge, Elliott State Forest, Oregon
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 20 km southeast of Reedsport in the Elliott State Forest.
Poplar Cove, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 17.5 km southwest of Franklin, NC in the Nantahala National Forest.
Mooney Gap, Coweeta Experimental Forest, North Carolina
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 16 km southeast of Otto, NC in the Coweeta Experimental Forest.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest, North Carolina
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 38.5 km south of Asheville, NC in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest.
Understanding Fluid Injection Induced Seismicity
Fluid injection induced seismicity has been reported since the 1960s. There are currently more than 150,000 injection wells associated with oil and gas production in 34 states in the conterminous US. Pore pressure disturbance caused by injection is generally considered the culprit for injection induced seismicity, but, not all injection causes seismicity. It is not well understood what mechanical
PubTalk-04/2023: Gravity Never Sleeps - Landslide Science and Risk Reduction
Gravity Never Sleeps - Landslide Science and Risk Reduction
By Jonathan Godt, USGS Landslide Hazards Program Coordinator
Learn About:
Spider Unit and 2014 Washington Landslide
Spider Unit & 2014 Washington Landslide
The photograph shows a spider unit, which is being used to help study the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014. Spiders are portable instrumentation packages that contain high-precision GPS units for detecting landslide movement as well as geophones for detecting small vibrations. The spiders can be emplaced by hovering helicopters.
The photograph shows a spider unit, which is being used to help study the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014. Spiders are portable instrumentation packages that contain high-precision GPS units for detecting landslide movement as well as geophones for detecting small vibrations. The spiders can be emplaced by hovering helicopters.
2014 Landslide in Washington State
Photograph from aerial survey showing the upper parts of the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014.
Photograph from aerial survey showing the upper parts of the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014.
Aspen Lodge
Photo taken by Jonathan Godt, USGS Geologic Hazards Team. Monday, Sept. 16. Landslide at northwest flank of Twin Sisters Peak near Rocky Mt. National Park.
Photo taken by Jonathan Godt, USGS Geologic Hazards Team. Monday, Sept. 16. Landslide at northwest flank of Twin Sisters Peak near Rocky Mt. National Park.
Science and Products
Landslide External Grants
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.
Preliminary Landslide Assessments
The USGS seeks to provide effective situational awareness about long-term and ongoing hazardous events to improve emergency response, inform the public, and minimize societal disruption. Large, highly mobile landslides generate seismic signals that can be detected by seismic monitoring networks and leave scars and deposits that can be detected from high-resolution remote-sensing imagery. Following...
Preliminary Analysis of Satellite Imagery and Seismic Observations of the Nuugaatsiaq Landslide and Tsunami, Greenland
Disclaimer This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely science to assess ongoing hazards. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized...
Preliminary Landslide Susceptibility Maps and Data for Hawaii
Landslide Susceptibility Data and Maps provide tools for hazard assessment prior to an event that may cause landslides.
Portland, Oregon
Landslides in the West Hills of Portland pose a hazard to people and property.
Knife Ridge, Elliott State Forest, Oregon
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 20 km southeast of Reedsport in the Elliott State Forest.
Poplar Cove, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 17.5 km southwest of Franklin, NC in the Nantahala National Forest.
Mooney Gap, Coweeta Experimental Forest, North Carolina
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 16 km southeast of Otto, NC in the Coweeta Experimental Forest.
Bent Creek Experimental Forest, North Carolina
The USGS and its cooperators have installed instruments in a steep hillside about 38.5 km south of Asheville, NC in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest.
Understanding Fluid Injection Induced Seismicity
Fluid injection induced seismicity has been reported since the 1960s. There are currently more than 150,000 injection wells associated with oil and gas production in 34 states in the conterminous US. Pore pressure disturbance caused by injection is generally considered the culprit for injection induced seismicity, but, not all injection causes seismicity. It is not well understood what mechanical
PubTalk-04/2023: Gravity Never Sleeps - Landslide Science and Risk Reduction
Gravity Never Sleeps - Landslide Science and Risk Reduction
By Jonathan Godt, USGS Landslide Hazards Program Coordinator
Learn About:
Gravity Never Sleeps - Landslide Science and Risk Reduction
By Jonathan Godt, USGS Landslide Hazards Program Coordinator
Learn About:
Spider Unit and 2014 Washington Landslide
Spider Unit & 2014 Washington Landslide
The photograph shows a spider unit, which is being used to help study the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014. Spiders are portable instrumentation packages that contain high-precision GPS units for detecting landslide movement as well as geophones for detecting small vibrations. The spiders can be emplaced by hovering helicopters.
The photograph shows a spider unit, which is being used to help study the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014. Spiders are portable instrumentation packages that contain high-precision GPS units for detecting landslide movement as well as geophones for detecting small vibrations. The spiders can be emplaced by hovering helicopters.
2014 Landslide in Washington State
Photograph from aerial survey showing the upper parts of the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014.
Photograph from aerial survey showing the upper parts of the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014.
Aspen Lodge
Photo taken by Jonathan Godt, USGS Geologic Hazards Team. Monday, Sept. 16. Landslide at northwest flank of Twin Sisters Peak near Rocky Mt. National Park.
Photo taken by Jonathan Godt, USGS Geologic Hazards Team. Monday, Sept. 16. Landslide at northwest flank of Twin Sisters Peak near Rocky Mt. National Park.