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Browse our photos and videos of landslide research and post-landslide investigations.
Channel in a burned watershed within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming where a debris flow initiated during a July 2025 thunderstorm. Near the headwaters, exposed bedrock is visible in channel, and loose sediment and burned trees cover the hillslope above. Trees near the channel margin show damage from the force of the flow.
Channel in a burned watershed within the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming where a debris flow initiated during a July 2025 thunderstorm. Near the headwaters, exposed bedrock is visible in channel, and loose sediment and burned trees cover the hillslope above. Trees near the channel margin show damage from the force of the flow.
Postfire debris-flow levee in the 2024 Elk fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. This levee, located near the channel margin contains poorly sorted sediment ranging from fine mud-to boulder-sized. A small amount of woody material is also present in the levee. The levee was formed by a debris flow in the watershed, triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm.
Postfire debris-flow levee in the 2024 Elk fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. This levee, located near the channel margin contains poorly sorted sediment ranging from fine mud-to boulder-sized. A small amount of woody material is also present in the levee. The levee was formed by a debris flow in the watershed, triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm.
Close-up view of a debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. A debris flow triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm deposited poorly sorted material ranging from mud to boulder size. Mud coatings are observed on some larger rocks, and finer material fills spaces between the cobbles and boulders.
Close-up view of a debris-flow deposit in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. A debris flow triggered by a 2025 summer thunderstorm deposited poorly sorted material ranging from mud to boulder size. Mud coatings are observed on some larger rocks, and finer material fills spaces between the cobbles and boulders.
USGS Postfire landslide monitoring station in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The station records rainfall and soil moisture data and captured video of a debris flow on July 15, 2025. The channel where the flow occurred is visible in the background.
USGS Postfire landslide monitoring station in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The station records rainfall and soil moisture data and captured video of a debris flow on July 15, 2025. The channel where the flow occurred is visible in the background.
Recent landslide on the east face of Mt. King George (3741 m) with clouds of dust from ongoing rockfall. Debris descended over 1500 m to the glacier below. Photo courtesy of Yukon Geological Survey.
Recent landslide on the east face of Mt. King George (3741 m) with clouds of dust from ongoing rockfall. Debris descended over 1500 m to the glacier below. Photo courtesy of Yukon Geological Survey.
Large landslide on the southwest side of Mt. King George. The main debris lobe is 1800 m wide, and material would have travelled approximately 6 km from the source area (triangular scar) in the background. Photo courtesy of Yukon Geological Survey.
Large landslide on the southwest side of Mt. King George. The main debris lobe is 1800 m wide, and material would have travelled approximately 6 km from the source area (triangular scar) in the background. Photo courtesy of Yukon Geological Survey.
A debris flow recorded by a USGS Landslide Monitoring Station in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The flow was triggered by intense rainfall during a thunderstorm on the evening of July 15, 2025.
A debris flow recorded by a USGS Landslide Monitoring Station in the 2024 Elk Fire burn area near Dayton, Wyoming. The flow was triggered by intense rainfall during a thunderstorm on the evening of July 15, 2025.
The frequency and scale of landslides in a region are determined by both external forcing and inherent, site-specific susceptibility.
The frequency and scale of landslides in a region are determined by both external forcing and inherent, site-specific susceptibility.
The effects of deglaciation on the slope stability of glacial valleys have increasing importance in the context of climate change, with a role on the susceptibility to large-volume rock slides or rock avalanches and catastrophic cascading geohazards.
The effects of deglaciation on the slope stability of glacial valleys have increasing importance in the context of climate change, with a role on the susceptibility to large-volume rock slides or rock avalanches and catastrophic cascading geohazards.
Wildfire often amplifies the likelihood and magnitude of debris flows in steep terrain. In arid climates (e.g. US Mountain West and Southwest), post-fire debris flows typically occur during the first rains following fire, suggesting that rainfall-driven erosion is a strong control on in-channel preconditioning and triggering of these hazards.
Wildfire often amplifies the likelihood and magnitude of debris flows in steep terrain. In arid climates (e.g. US Mountain West and Southwest), post-fire debris flows typically occur during the first rains following fire, suggesting that rainfall-driven erosion is a strong control on in-channel preconditioning and triggering of these hazards.
Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are transient channels of intense horizontal water vapor transport in the lower atmosphere.
Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are transient channels of intense horizontal water vapor transport in the lower atmosphere.
The development of a Geologic Hazards Program for the USDA Forest Service is a challenging undertaking.
The development of a Geologic Hazards Program for the USDA Forest Service is a challenging undertaking.