Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Browse our photos of landslide research and post-landslide investigations.
USGS civil engineer Brian Collins examines blocks of glacial till that form parts of the Oso landslide deposit.
USGS civil engineer Brian Collins examines blocks of glacial till that form parts of the Oso landslide deposit.
A volcano monitoring “spider” was deployed by helicopter to the Oso landslide to track ground movement and seismicity while search-and-rescue operations were ongoing. The spider was equipped with a seismometer (mounted on the far left leg) to track ground shaking and GPS (a dome-shaped instrument on the upper mast) to track subtle ground movement.
A volcano monitoring “spider” was deployed by helicopter to the Oso landslide to track ground movement and seismicity while search-and-rescue operations were ongoing. The spider was equipped with a seismometer (mounted on the far left leg) to track ground shaking and GPS (a dome-shaped instrument on the upper mast) to track subtle ground movement.
Oso Landslide
Oso Landslide
A landslide caused by heavy rainfall in April 2014 destroyed a building in Carroll County, KY.
A landslide caused by heavy rainfall in April 2014 destroyed a building in Carroll County, KY.
Oblique aerial photograph of the Oso, Washington landslide, showing the entire extent of the landslide source area and path.
Location: State Route 530, Oso, Washington
Oblique aerial photograph of the Oso, Washington landslide, showing the entire extent of the landslide source area and path.
Location: State Route 530, Oso, Washington
Aerial photograph of catastrophic landslide that occurred near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014.
Aerial photograph of catastrophic landslide that occurred near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014.
Cracks on a gravel road formed during the reactivation of a slow, deep landslide. The cracks can be indicators of local movement in or around the road or in this case, are a sign of a much larger landslide.
Cracks on a gravel road formed during the reactivation of a slow, deep landslide. The cracks can be indicators of local movement in or around the road or in this case, are a sign of a much larger landslide.
Large cracks formed in this yard after a large landslide occurred downslope of a home. Though the home wasn't directly impacted by the landslide, the cracks in the yard are indicators of potential additional movement and increased landslide risk.
Large cracks formed in this yard after a large landslide occurred downslope of a home. Though the home wasn't directly impacted by the landslide, the cracks in the yard are indicators of potential additional movement and increased landslide risk.
Cracks on a gravel road formed during the initial movement of a slow, deep landslide. The cracks can be indicators of local movement in or around the road or in this case, a much larger landslide and damaged many homes.
Cracks on a gravel road formed during the initial movement of a slow, deep landslide. The cracks can be indicators of local movement in or around the road or in this case, a much larger landslide and damaged many homes.
A reactivated landslide destroyed this home that was built on the landslide. Initial, slow landslide movement allowed the occupant to escape. Island County, WA. March 2013
A reactivated landslide destroyed this home that was built on the landslide. Initial, slow landslide movement allowed the occupant to escape. Island County, WA. March 2013
Photograph of the channel station showing the laser distance meter (in red circle) high above the channel used to measure stage (height) of flow in the channel.
Photograph of the channel station showing the laser distance meter (in red circle) high above the channel used to measure stage (height) of flow in the channel.
Debris flow damage following the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire, Colorado, U.S.
Debris flow damage following the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire, Colorado, U.S.
Toe of the active Cleveland Corral landslide in 2011, perched above US Highway 50 in distance. Movement typically only occurs during wet winter and spring months.
Toe of the active Cleveland Corral landslide in 2011, perched above US Highway 50 in distance. Movement typically only occurs during wet winter and spring months.
Elliot State Forest.
Gould debris basin at a watershed outlet in Los Angeles County, California that has been filled with mud and debris. This photo was taken in 2010 after a major debris flow in the 2009 Station Fire burn area. The metal tower in the foreground is approximately 10 meters high.
Gould debris basin at a watershed outlet in Los Angeles County, California that has been filled with mud and debris. This photo was taken in 2010 after a major debris flow in the 2009 Station Fire burn area. The metal tower in the foreground is approximately 10 meters high.
An unfilled debris basin at the outlet of Gould Canyon in Los Angeles County, California. The metal tower in the foreground is approximately 10 meters high.
An unfilled debris basin at the outlet of Gould Canyon in Los Angeles County, California. The metal tower in the foreground is approximately 10 meters high.
Oblique photograph of Knife Ridge monitoring site showing approximate soil pit locations.
Oblique photograph of Knife Ridge monitoring site showing approximate soil pit locations.
A USGS monitoring station in the 2009 Station Fire. The Station Fire burned approximately 160,000 acres from August to October 2009, including steep terrain in the Angeles National Forest. The USGS installed this monitoring station approximately 1 month after the fire was contained to collect information about rainfall and postfire soil properties.
A USGS monitoring station in the 2009 Station Fire. The Station Fire burned approximately 160,000 acres from August to October 2009, including steep terrain in the Angeles National Forest. The USGS installed this monitoring station approximately 1 month after the fire was contained to collect information about rainfall and postfire soil properties.
A USGS walks on a very steep, burned hillslope in the 2009 Station Fire, Angeles National Forest, California. The wildfire has removed nearly all of the vegetation from the hillslope and well-developed rills cover the ground's surface. Rills are small channels cut into the hillside by erosion processes.
A USGS walks on a very steep, burned hillslope in the 2009 Station Fire, Angeles National Forest, California. The wildfire has removed nearly all of the vegetation from the hillslope and well-developed rills cover the ground's surface. Rills are small channels cut into the hillside by erosion processes.
Well-developed rills in the 2009 Station Fire. Rills are small channels cut into the hillside by erosion processes. They have the potential to generate a large amount of sediment, which may contribute to debris-flow formation.
Well-developed rills in the 2009 Station Fire. Rills are small channels cut into the hillside by erosion processes. They have the potential to generate a large amount of sediment, which may contribute to debris-flow formation.
A USGS monitoring station in the 2009 Station Fire. The Station Fire burned approximately 160,000 acres from August to October 2009, including steep terrain in the Angeles National Forest. The USGS installed this monitoring station approximately 1 month after the fire was contained to collect information about rainfall and postfire soil properties.
A USGS monitoring station in the 2009 Station Fire. The Station Fire burned approximately 160,000 acres from August to October 2009, including steep terrain in the Angeles National Forest. The USGS installed this monitoring station approximately 1 month after the fire was contained to collect information about rainfall and postfire soil properties.