Articles tagged with Landslides
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a 3D-printed model of a rock avalanche to study the movement of mixtures of water, ice, and rock. The model, which is 1:577 in scale, was used to test various scenarios and measure parameters such as depth of runoff and impact dynamics.
A PSU study finds that historically underinvested neighborhoods with lower median incomes and higher racial diversity are most vulnerable to multiple climate hazards. These areas, including East Portland, face the highest risk from landslides, wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat.
A new database maps building-level landslide risk for the entire US, revealing that 6.5 million people live in landslide-prone regions. The analysis shows an urban-rural divide in landslide susceptibility, with rural areas facing greater economic constraints and limited resources.
A new study has mapped landslide hazard zones across the US, revealing that 6.5 million Americans live in areas prone to landslides. The research highlights a significant urban-rural divide in disaster preparedness, with rural residents facing greater challenges in recovering from such events.
Researchers found that when bedding strata incline above the topographic slope, rainwater infiltrates deep into the subsurface through fractures. In contrast, on dip slopes with aligned bedding direction, landslide landforms develop due to rapid runoff after rainfall events.
A new study by NTU Singapore reveals that major earthquakes can trigger decades-long land sinking in Southeast Asia, affecting relative sea-level projections. This phenomenon may underestimate coastal flood risks for low-lying regions if not accounted for in sea-level modeling.
Researchers used high-resolution topographic data to investigate landslide mechanisms. They found that soil thickness varies systematically with slope gradient, controlling depth and size of landslides. This study offers a foundation for hazard maps and risk assessments under climate change.
Climate change is expected to make historically rare tropical storms in Southern California produce significantly more precipitation, increasing landslide risk. Exposure to landslide risk will grow fastest among low-income households.
Researchers used UAV-LiDAR technology to measure deposits on abandoned mountain roads, estimating decadal-scale debris supply. The study found that debris supply increases with steeper slope angles and larger contributing areas, posing a risk for debris flows.
A Brazilian study developed a new statistical analysis method that better predicts landslide risk. The approach uses the Gaussian distribution to define the weight of each contributing factor objectively. It was validated based on an inventory of landslides in São Paulo, where 65 people were killed.
Researchers studying seismic signals from Alaska's Prince William Sound have identified unusual impulsive events that increase in rate from summer to winter, before coming to an abrupt halt. These events may be linked to water freezing and thawing within rock cracks beneath nearby Cascade Glacier.
A recent study found that most new lunar landslides were triggered by endogenic moonquakes, rather than new impacts or thermal weathering. The research team discovered 41 new landslides in the eastern Imbrium Basin, a region with known seismic activity.
Researchers have confirmed the existence of hidden motions in granular materials like soil and snow, which can control their movement. This discovery could help understand how landslides and avalanches work, as well as benefit industries such as construction and grain filling.
A study from the University of Oregon found that debris flows and rockfall have been occurring in steep, rocky watersheds for thousands of years, regardless of fire. The researchers suggest that fire plays a relatively small role in triggering these events, highlighting the importance of considering geological history.
A new framework developed by Northwestern University and UCLA scientists integrates various water-related processes with a machine-learning model to predict landslide threats. The framework identifies three main pathways leading to landslides: intense rainfall, rain on already saturated soils, and melting snow or ice.
Debris flows in the Alps are hazardous due to surge waves that can destroy everything in their path. Researchers have found that surges arise spontaneously on the surface of the flow, stemming from small irregularities that grow over time.
An international team of researchers proposes that a meteorite impact just west of Winslow, Arizona, created Meteor Crater and triggered a massive landslide in the Grand Canyon. The study found evidence of a paleolake forming at the same time, with driftwood dating back to around 55,000 years.
Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized source of seismic hazard for the Yukon Territory, finding evidence of multiple large earthquakes on the Tintina fault in recent geologic history. The team's findings confirm that the fault continues to accumulate strain, posing a future earthquake threat with potential magnitudes ex...
A new framework developed by researchers aims to better predict and understand cascading land surface hazards, which can increase the risk of subsequent events. The study's findings could help improve disaster response and build societal resilience after natural hazards.
Researchers used SWOT satellite data to confirm that two mega tsunamis triggered by landslides caused trapped waves in the fjord. The study provides new insights into ocean extremes and how climate change affects remote areas.
A new near-real-time prediction model for earthquake-triggered landslides has been developed, utilizing a global database of 398,698 mapped events and cutting-edge deep learning. The model achieves spatial accuracy exceeding 82% and can generate probability maps of landslide occurrence in under one minute.
A new analysis reveals that the Çöpler Gold Mine site had been slowly moving for at least four years prior to the fatal landslide, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring. The study suggests integrating infrastructure management with monitoring and rapid response mechanisms to avoid future disasters.
Researchers on the SONNE310 expedition investigate canyons on active and passive continental slopes in the southwest Pacific. The study aims to identify factors that determine landslide frequency, size, and location, enhancing global risk assessment and protecting coastal areas.
A new method combining Random Forest and Compound Maximum a Posteriori algorithms reduces invalid transitions and improves LULC classification, correcting 99.92 km2 of errors. The study outperforms traditional methods, especially in detecting changes in mountainous regions.
The USC-led CLIMA Center will investigate the combined impacts of climate-related exposures and adaptation capacity on human health, using a transdisciplinary approach. The center aims to inform policies that protect vulnerable communities and strengthen climate resilience.
The expedition aims to understand how extreme geohazards interact and improve the long-term safety of coastal regions. Researchers use innovative technologies to collect real-time data on earthquakes, ground movements, and volcanic gases.
A team of physicists studied the unique motion of Champati seeds rolling down slopes, revealing a spread-out, then collapse-like behavior akin to rock avalanches. The research may provide valuable insights into geological flows and contribute to resolving challenges in this area.
A team of researchers has created a model that predicts landslide risk in coastal areas, using high-resolution images to identify over 1,000 landslide points in São Sebastião, Brazil. The new methodology aims to provide more precise results and will be ready by the end of 2025.
A new model developed for predicting fault line slip also accurately forecasts landslides, providing a crucial tool for disaster preparedness. Researchers used data from monitored landslide sites in Northern California to validate the model's effectiveness.
A new Stanford review of hundreds of studies found little to no sediment dating back to the 34 million-year-old Eocene-Oligocene climate transition, contradicting conventional models. The researchers attribute this globally extensive gap in the geologic record to vigorous ocean bottom currents triggered by major climate shifts.
A new study found a significant link between intimate partner violence and certain climate shocks, such as storms and floods, in 156 countries. Countries with higher GDP had lower rates of intimate partner violence, highlighting the need for climate mitigation efforts to reduce violence against women.
A study of 156 countries found that climate-related disasters like landslides and floods are associated with an increase in intimate partner violence against women two years after the event. The effect is similar in magnitude to economic factors, suggesting a potential link between climate change and social drivers of violence.
The SUPERSLUG initiative aims to forecast the impact of sediment slugs on river catchments and communities. The project will use a range of sensors and numerical models to provide comprehensive predictions of where and how long-term effects might be felt, up to decades or centuries after an event.
A new study found that up to 40% of the growing population in mountains is at risk due to slow-moving landslides. The research, published in Earth's Future, estimated global exposure to slow-moving landslide hazards using a database of 7,764 large landslides.
A new study finds that slow-moving landslides are frequently excluded from estimates of landslide risk, threatening people living on unstable slopes. Urban growth, climate change, and flood risk drive population shifts to safer areas, yet poorer populations may have limited options.
A landslide in remote Greenland caused a mega-tsunami that sloshed back and forth across a fjord for nine days, generating vibrations throughout the Earth. The study used mathematical models to recreate the event and demonstrate how the sloshing of water would have continued, matching global seismic recordings.
The USGS has released a new map showing areas most prone to landslides across the US. The map highlights regions with high susceptibility to landslides, enabling scientists and policymakers to prepare for potential disasters and implement mitigation strategies.
Researchers mapped a giant underwater avalanche that grew 100 times in size, eroding a 400km canyon and traveling 2000km across the Atlantic Ocean seafloor. The event was so powerful it carried boulders over 130m up the side of the canyon.
A recent study found that the 2023 Greenland megatsunami generated a week-long oscillating wave in Dickson Fjord, revealing new insights into seiche dynamics. The research also sheds light on the impacts of landslides in Greenland and similar regions around the world.
A large landslide triggered a megatsunami in Greenland's Dickson Fjord, causing a standing wave that sloshed back and forth for over a week. Researchers detected the unusual event using seismic signals recorded at stations worldwide.
Researchers tested GNSS data for rapid landslide prediction and found near real-time prediction possible within 40 minutes, according to Chen and colleagues. The study highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring and improved prediction models for regions susceptible to landslides.
Researchers at UCLA and NASA's JPL found that the 2023 Rolling Hills Estates landslide was a slow-moving, progressive event that began with heavy winter rainfall. The study used satellite data to measure ground motion over time, revealing subtle movements before accelerated collapse.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to analyze the behavior of granular materials, revealing their internal forces and shapes in 3D detail. This breakthrough may lead to better understanding of landslides and industrial processes.
Researchers at University of Alaska Fairbanks have developed a new detection method that can identify landslides within minutes and determine if they pose a tsunami hazard. The method uses seismic data to estimate a landslide's location, volume, and potential impact, with the goal of issuing warnings in under 5 minutes.
Scientists at the University of Rochester discovered that even small differences in grain shape can significantly alter grain segregation in dry and wet conditions. The study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research to better understand and predict geohazards and alleviate segregation issues in industrial flows.
A team of scientists found evidence that the moon's shrinkage led to surface warping in its south polar region, including areas proposed for crewed Artemis III landings. Shallow moonquakes can devastate hypothetical human settlements on the moon due to loose sediments and unstable surface slopes.
Researchers developed a novel approach combining PPP and CUSUM to analyze reference station stability and compensate for deformation at monitoring stations. The study showcased significant improvements in landslide monitoring using advanced GNSS technology.
Researchers from Ohio State University studied a past underwater landslide and developed a novel approach to analyze the risk of deadly tsunamis. They found that slide velocity may help determine the threat of dangerous waves, and their findings could improve our understanding of submarine landslides and tsunamigenic events.
Researchers used airborne lidar technology to create a map of over 1,000 deep-seated landslides in the Puget Lowlands. The study found strong evidence of the last major Seattle Fault earthquake, estimated to be magnitude 7-7.5, and potential traces of older earthquakes.
GEOMAR researchers used 3D seismics to recreate the 1650 Kolumbo volcano eruption, finding that a landslide followed by an explosion created the devastating tsunami. The study provides valuable insights for monitoring submarine volcanic activity and potentially developing early warning systems.
Soil liquefaction, a destructive phenomenon during earthquakes, is redefined by this groundbreaking study. Liquefaction can now be understood to occur in drained conditions with low seismic-energy density levels, triggered by seismic shaking facilitating interstitial fluid flow within the soil.
Researchers have identified that ancient quakes occurred in shallow faults on the Puget Lowlands in western Washington, which could lead to another devastating event. The study used tree rings to pinpoint the dates of these quakes and found a link between them, suggesting regional hazard models may need to be updated.
Climate change is shifting snowfall to rainfall on mountains across the Northern Hemisphere, increasing the risk of floods, landslides, and soil erosion. The study found that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in global temperature, high elevations can expect an average of 15% more rain.
Researchers use artificial intelligence to predict where and why landslides occur, pinpointing key variables contributing to the earth's slip. Their new method improves accuracy and interpretability, making it more valuable for protecting lives and property.
A new Dartmouth study projects a 52% increase in extreme precipitation events in the Northeast by the end of the century. The region is expected to experience more frequent heavy rainfall events, with winter and spring contributing most to this projected increase.
Scientists have discovered weak, fossilised sediments beneath the seafloor of Antarctica's eastern Ross Sea, which led to massive underwater landslides. These layers made the area susceptible to failure due to past climate change.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology created a digital platform to enable organizations to share satellite data, accelerating earth science research. The New Observing Strategies Testbed (NOS-T) facilitates complex missions like wildfire spotting and landslides prediction without revealing private information.
Scientists are developing a high-resolution landslides susceptibility map to forecast future landslides in eastern Oklahoma. The project uses remote sensing data, machine learning, and LiDAR topographic data to understand the causes, mechanics, and associated hazards of landslides.
Researchers have developed a way to quickly detect and assess glacial valley landslides in coastal Alaska, which can trigger dangerous local tsunamis. They use seismic data to pinpoint landslide events and estimate their volume, aiming to develop an operational detection tool for tsunami centers.
Researchers attribute unusual radar properties to coherent backscatter opposition effect (CBOE) and ice surface irregularities. The CBOE model, improved by Hofgartner and Hand, can explain all icy satellite radar properties.