Oso Landslide Computer Simulations
Detailed Description
A large destructive landslide occurred near Oso, Washington on March 22, 2014. Computer simulations indicate that it could have behaved very differently (with much less mobility and consequent destructiveness) if the ground had been less porous and water-saturated. This video shows the results of two computer simulations. The first simulation shows computed landslide behavior that best matches that observed at Oso. An alternative simulation shows landslide behavior that could have occurred if the water-saturated ground had been slightly less porous. Details on the Oso landslide and these computer simulations are in Landslide mobility and hazards: implications of the 2014 Oso disaster, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2014 (doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2014.12.020).
Details
Date Taken:
Length: 00:02:19
Location Taken: WA, US
Transcript
Title: Oso Landslide Computer Simulations
Narration:
A large destructive landslide occurred near
Oso, Washington on March 22, 2014.
Computer simulations indicate that it could
have behaved very differently (with much less
mobility and consequent destructiveness) if
the ground had been less porous and water-saturated.
Results of two simulations follow.
The first simulation shows computed landslide
behavior that best matches that observed at
Oso.
The landslide accelerates rapidly after slope
failure occurs, because the porous, water-saturated
ground liquefies after it fails.
[Oso Landslide Simulation Best Fit]
An alternative simulation shows landslide
behavior that could have occurred if the water-saturated
ground had been slightly less porous.
In this case the failing ground does not liquefy.
The resulting landslide moves relatively slowly
and stops after it travels only about 100
meters.
[Oso Landslide Simulation Best Fit]
Details on the Oso landslide and these computer
simulations are in:
Landslide mobility and hazards: implications
of the 2014 Oso disaster, Earth and Planetary
Science Letters, 2014 (doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2014.12.020)
by R.M.
Iverson1, D.L.
George1, K. Allstadt2, M.E. Reid1, B.D.
Collins1, J.W.
Vallance1, S.P. Schilling1, J.W.
Godt1, C.M.
Cannon1, C.S.
Magirl1, R.L. Baum1, J.A. Coe1, W.H.
Schulz1, and J.B.
Title: Oso Landslide Computer Simulations
Narration:
A large destructive landslide occurred near
Oso, Washington on March 22, 2014.
Computer simulations indicate that it could
have behaved very differently (with much less
mobility and consequent destructiveness) if
the ground had been less porous and water-saturated.
Results of two simulations follow.
The first simulation shows computed landslide
behavior that best matches that observed at
Oso.
The landslide accelerates rapidly after slope
failure occurs, because the porous, water-saturated
ground liquefies after it fails.
[Oso Landslide Simulation Best Fit]
An alternative simulation shows landslide
behavior that could have occurred if the water-saturated
ground had been slightly less porous.
In this case the failing ground does not liquefy.
The resulting landslide moves relatively slowly
and stops after it travels only about 100
meters.
[Oso Landslide Simulation Best Fit]
Details on the Oso landslide and these computer
simulations are in:
Landslide mobility and hazards: implications
of the 2014 Oso disaster, Earth and Planetary
Science Letters, 2014 (doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2014.12.020)
by R.M. Iverson1, D.L. George1, K. Allstadt2,
M.E. Reid1, B.D. Collins1, J.W. Vallance1,
S.P. Schilling1, J.W. Godt1, C.M. Cannon1,
C.S. Magirl1, R.L. Baum1, J.A. Coe1, W.H.
Schulz1, and J.B. Bower3
1 U.S. Geological Survey, 2 University of
Washington, 3 NOAA National Weather Service
Narration by Richard M. Iverson, Research
Hydrologist
U.S. Geological Survey-Cascades Volcano Observatory
January 2015