Articles tagged with Landslides
A new study found that human-induced landslides have increased globally, causing over 5000 deaths in India's Kedarnath landslide. The research highlights the need for regulation and education to prevent such accidents.
University of Melbourne researchers have developed a software tool to predict landslide boundaries by identifying subtle patterns in motion, allowing for early warning signs to be detected. The tool uses big data analytics and applied mathematics to shed light on the microstructure level of failure in landslides.
A new model developed by Indiana University researchers estimates the likelihood of landslides triggered by earthquakes, offering potentially life-saving information to those affected. The model uses data from past earthquakes and landslides to provide fast, regional estimates of landslide occurrence.
The study analyzed data from NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) to estimate rainfall accumulation during the week from July 9 to 13, 2018. Heavy monsoon rainfall was reported along India's Arabian Sea Coast and in large areas of north-central India, with at least 525 mm of rain recorded in Mumbai.
A new model predicts landslide locations and runouts in near real-time, helping first responders plan reconnaissance flights and evacuate affected areas. However, the approach overpredicts landslides, limiting its use for exact location determination.
Researchers found that stable gas hydrates can indirectly destabilize sediment above, triggering submarine landslides. The new process, independent of climatic changes, involves the formation of fluid conduits beneath the seafloor, leading to hydro fractures and shallow slope failure.
Researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel identified a stratification of the seafloor as responsible for at least one landslide in the region. The discovery was made by combining drilling and seismic data, which revealed a layer of clay overlying ooze composed of fossil planktonic organisms.
Heavy rainfall in California, fueled by wildfires, caused deadly mudslides that killed at least 17 residents. NASA's LHASA model provided a landslide hazard assessment map, showing the potential for landslides.
The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission observed heavy rainfall around Tropical Cyclone Dahlia, creating landslide potential in southern Java. The satellite data revealed storm tops stretching to 12 km high, indicating strong precipitation rates.
A new study explores the impact of ice on Martian landslides, finding similarities with Earth's ice-lubricated landslides and demonstrating how ice influences shape and velocity. The research uses glacial morphology and remote sensing measurements to model landslide dynamics.
Researchers at Washington State University predict a 7-11% increase in landslide-prone areas on logged land by 2045. The study models clear-cut lands on the Olympic Peninsula and considers factors like soil moisture, land cover, and topography.
The Oso landslide traveled an impressive 1.4 kilometers, with researchers attributing this movement to a liquefied base layer. Mapping of hummocks and liquefaction features has provided key insights into the landslide's mechanism, shedding light on its mobility sequence.
A new study has identified the triggers behind a devastating 2010 landslide in Quebec, Canada, which killed four people and destroyed a house. Sediment erosion by the Salvail River and high groundwater pressure under the river bed contributed to the failure of sensitive clay sediments.
A new study finds that 40% of economic losses and deaths result from secondary effects rather than shaking. Key findings include the importance of preparing against disasters such as tsunamis, liquefaction, fires, landslides, and flooding.
Researchers used satellite data to track and map the movement of earth before a landslide, detecting the devastating event in China's Sichuan Province. The team believes their technology can provide early warnings for landslides, potentially saving thousands of lives.
A new study in Geophysical Research Letters finds that a series of unprecedented storms over the Southern Ocean likely caused the most dramatic decline in Antarctic sea ice seen to date. The extreme weather event led to significant losses of sea ice, with researchers suggesting that the storms' impact was exacerbated by climate change.
Heavy rainfall in southeastern Bangladesh caused at least 156 deaths through landslides and floods. NASA's IMERG data analyzed by Goddard Space Flight Center shows extreme rainfall totals exceeding 510 mm.
Heavy rainfall, over 434 mm, was measured over the Bay of Bengal to the northeast of Sri Lanka from May 23-26. The village of Bellana experienced a landslide killing 90 people and over 100 missing due to strong winds and rough seas.
A recent landslide in Washington killed 43 people, prompting researchers to investigate the disaster. The study found that the landslide's height and potential energy were primary factors, but also revealed the importance of sediment type, precipitation, and erosion.
Scientists at University of Edinburgh have found that landslides in southern Himalayan regions can increase flood risk by altering river paths with gravel and pebbles, while softer rocks in northern regions produce dispersed sand downstream. The study helps improve flood risk maps for the Ganga Plain, affecting millions.
A new study led by Georgia Tech reveals that massive landslides on Ceres are indicative of hidden ice, suggesting up to 50% of the upper layers may be composed of ice. The research uses data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft to identify three types of landslides, offering insights into Ceres' composition and structure.
A massive undersea landslide has been revealed on the Great Barrier Reef, spanning approximately 30 kilometers and featuring a debris field of large blocks and smaller knolls. The discovery provides new insights into the reef's complex landscape and poses concerns for tsunami hazard to the Queensland coast.
Tropical Depression 01W formed near Mindanao on January 8, 2017, and quickly weakened due to wind shear. The depression moved west through Mindanao towards the South China Sea, bringing moderate to heavy rains and rough seas to the region.
Researchers at the University of Miami have identified margin collapses and submarine landslides along the Great Bahama Bank that could generate tsunamis in the past and potentially again. The study suggests that these events could pose a risk to Florida and Cuba, with tsunami waves potentially several meters high.
A University of Michigan-led team is mapping surface ruptures and earthquake-triggered landslides in New Zealand using a combination of satellite imagery, drone footage, helicopter observations, and on-foot data collection. The high-resolution maps will help response teams assess landslide threats and prepare for future large earthquakes.
A new study from Cardiff University found that climate change is unlikely to increase landslide frequency in storm-affected areas, despite projected increases in rainstorms. The research challenges current theories and highlights the importance of soil accumulation on steep hillslopes in triggering landslides.
University of Southern California researchers discovered the 'elastic-inertial régime', a transition zone between two regimes where friction increases with shear rate. This finding has significant implications for industries handling granular materials, which are often used in mining and pharmaceuticals.
A new analysis reveals that massive earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, affecting population centers like Portland and Seattle, may occur more frequently than thought. The study used detailed data from core samples and found slightly higher chances of an earthquake within the next 50 years.
Researchers captured a region-wide snapshot of slow-moving landslides in the Eel River Basin, which slowed by half between 2009 and 2015 due to unprecedented drought. The study provides vital data for forecasting how landslides will respond to climate change.
A new study from the University of Utah has dated the Sentinel rock avalanche to 4,800 years ago, estimating its size and dynamics. The landslide created a flat floor for 700 years, covering an area larger than New York City's Central Park with debris.
Researchers used a sophisticated computer model to show that vibrations generated by large slides can cause tons of rock to flow like a fluid, enabling it to rumble across vast distances. The study found that the vibrational waves reduce the effect of friction acting on the slide, enabling it to travel further than smaller slides.
A new book by UC Santa Barbara geologist Arthur Sylvester explores the region's complex geology and notable features like the San Andreas Fault and Joshua Tree National Park. The guide includes 196 geo-referenced photographs, maps, and diagrams to help drivers appreciate the region's geological treasures.
A recent study on the 2015 Nepal earthquake highlights the potential risks of landslides in the Pacific Northwest. The research team estimated tens of thousands of landslides, causing widespread damage and loss of life.
A 140-meter long sediment core from the Caribbean Sea has uncovered evidence of a massive 2.4 million-year-old volcanic eruption, which was likely larger than any recorded event in the region. The discovery provides valuable insights into past volcanic activity and its potential impact on future eruptions.
Researchers analyzed woody debris and used radiocarbon dating to map the history of activity at the Oso site. The study shows that slopes in the area around Oso have collapsed on average once every 500 years, with a higher rate of about once every 140 years over the past 2,000 years.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured temperature data on the storm's remnant low pressure area after it made landfall in Caraga / Manay, Davao Oriental. The remnant area is expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms over several regions.
An international team of scientists discovered that fewer landslides occurred after the 2015 Nepal earthquake than initially thought. The research used satellite imaging to analyze the region and found no large floods from overflowing glacial lakes.
The Great Barrier Reef is proving to be a valuable natural defense against landslide-induced tsunamis, according to new research. The reef's ability to absorb wave energy has been shown to reduce the impact of such events on coastal communities.
Bishal Upreti's research has practical implications in earthquake landslide hazard assessment, mineral exploration, and water resource development. His work maps active faults to evaluate seismic hazard in the Nepal Himalayan region.
Researchers found that areas with previous strong earthquakes were more likely to produce landslides after a second earthquake hit. The study's findings could lead to improved predictive models considering historical occurrences of past earthquakes.
A study published in Seismological Research Letters found that the 2015 Nepal earthquake produced less damage than expected, with researchers attributing this to the Kathmandu valley's ancient lake bed sediments. The shaking was reportedly amplified by these sediments for small and moderate earthquakes, but not as much for larger ones.
The University of Houston has been awarded a $246,000 NSF grant to support summer research opportunities in China for 18 geoscience majors. The students will conduct landslide studies using GPS and LiDAR technologies in the Three Gorges area, with potential applications worldwide.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have announced $10 million in funding for 45 new research projects across eight countries, tackling pressing issues like ocean acidification, malarial transmission, and climate adaptation.
A new study by CU Denver reveals that smaller cities in the developing world are often unprepared for disasters, lacking basic infrastructure and redundant systems. Climate change is expected to exacerbate these threats, particularly in mountainous regions such as India's Darjeeling District.
A historic storm triggered widespread flooding in Colorado's Front Range, causing massive landslides and rapid debris flows that transported hundreds of years' worth of accumulated sediment. Researchers used high-resolution topographic maps to measure the effects of extreme weather on erosion rates.
After strong earthquakes, landslides decrease due to an internal healing process of the landscape, returning to pre-earthquake levels in months to years. The destabilization caused by the quake gradually recovers as cracks close and are filled with sand and earth.
The American Geophysical Union awards top honors to journalists Andrew Revkin, Douglas Fox, and Sandi Doughton for their exceptional science reporting. Revkin receives the Robert C. Cowen Award for his climate change coverage, while Fox wins the Walter Sullivan Award for his story on dust's impact on drought in the US West.
Tropical Storm Linfa made landfall in southeastern China on July 9, bringing gale-force winds and threatening flooding. The storm's movement over land weakened its thunderstorms, but it will continue to parallel the southern coastline of China before dissipating.
A new database of submarine landslides has been developed to better understand these events and their effects. The database, which includes over 332 points of study, aims to improve the development of geo-models for forecasting future submarine slides.
A team of international volunteers is mapping landslide locations in earthquake-affected Nepal to identify additional hazards. Using satellite data from various sources, they have mapped nearly 1,000 landslides, providing critical information for evacuation and relief efforts.
Large landslides in the Himalaya-Karakoram ranges predominantly occur in the lower portions of the landscape, whereas glaciers and rock glaciers occupy the higher elevations almost exclusively. The study also introduces a new method called excess topography (ZE) to identify potentially unstable rock-mass volumes.
Kentucky geologists are sounding the alarm on landslide risk as the Oso disaster anniversary approaches. They emphasize the need for improved communication and policy to protect communities at high hazard areas. The US Geological Survey reports that landslides cause $2-3 billion in damage annually, with 25-50 fatalities.
Researchers analyzed data from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and found that sediment in affected river catchments remained for decades, longest where landsliding was highest. They also discovered low friction in the fault zone, contradicting previous observations.
A numerical triaxial apparatus based on discrete element method simulates and reproduces the mechanical property of granular materials in landslide. The modified DEM model reflects the main mechanism of friction and dilatancy, providing detail information of mechanical properties such as friction angle and dilatancy angle.
Researchers developed a non-subjective technology to analyze and classify landslide risks on a landscape scale, revealing some areas have landslides from one time or another in history. The new system can identify risks common to broad areas, potentially leading to increased awareness and informed land use decisions.
A catastrophic landslide, one of the largest known on Earth's surface, took place in southwestern Utah over 21 million years ago. The Markagunt gravity slide, measuring 1,300 square miles, is comparable in size to the Heart Mountain slide discovered in northwest Wyoming.
A Syracuse University geologist has discovered a correlation between earthquakes and landslides in Peru, suggesting that earthquakes may be the primary trigger for landslide activity. By analyzing river sediment particles, he found that erosion rates from landslides have not changed in response to climatic changes.
New research finds that rainfall patterns, not just amount, influence landslide risk. Scientists developed a model to predict landslides based on rainfall variability. Changing winds in Antarctica are also causing coastal glaciers to melt at an accelerated rate.
Researchers used fiber-optic cables to measure Antarctic ice loss in real-time, with potential implications for global sea levels. In another study, scientists explored the Indian Ocean's legacy and future research efforts. Meanwhile, Oregon landslides were found to be more susceptible to catastrophic failure during earthquakes.
Researchers in Italy have developed a new technology using distributed optical fiber sensors to monitor soil slopes and detect the onset of landslides. This innovation can help mitigate devastating losses of life and property by providing early warnings, making it an entirely new tool for landslide risk monitoring.