Research
The USGS Landslide Hazards Program conducts research in order to make accurate landslide hazard maps and forecasts of landslide occurrences by answering these major questions:
- Where and when will landslides occur?
- How big will the landslides be?
- How fast and how far will they move?
- What areas will the landslides affect or damage?
- How frequently do landslides occur in a given locality?
Wildfire related debris flows
In recent years, wildfires have ravaged many areas throughout the western U.S. Rainstorms that come in the wake of these fires often cause flooding and debris flows. The destructive debris flows have recently taken dozens of lives and caused many millions of dollars in damage. USGS research on debris flows in burned areas focuses on determining the conditions and processes that cause debris flows and rapidly assessing the potential for debris flow in specific burned areas.
Precipitation-induced landslides
Heavy precipitation is the primary trigger of landslides in the U.S. Years of above-average precipitation can reactivate old landslide deposits, and major storms or snow-melt events can trigger thousands of landslides across a region. USGS research on precipitation-induced landslides has focused mainly on developing predictive understanding of where and when landslides are likely to occur. In recent years, research has been conducted in selected areas of California, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington.
Software
This section has information about software the USGS has developed for conducting landslide research and hazard assessments.
Other projects
Information about other current or recent projects conducted by Landslide Hazards Program scientists in response to catastrophic landslide events or the needs of other federal agencies. These projects have been conducted at various locations in the U.S. in support of other federal agencies and in developing countries in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
