Dennis Michael Staley
Current research focuses on landslide hazards in Alaska, specifically on tsunamigenic landslides in Prince William Sound. Past research includes post-wildfire debris flow hazards in the western United States, the geomorphology of alluvial and debris-flow fans and talus deposits in arid and alpine environments, and the assessment of aquatic, riparian and wetland ecosystem health and function.
I am a Research Physical Scientist in the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage, Alaska, where I currently lead a project related to landslide hazards in Prince William Sound. This project is currently aimed at improving our understanding of the tsunamigenic potential and corresponding risk associated with large rock slope failures in recently deglaciated fiords.
Prior to moving to Alaska in the fall of 2021, I worked at the Geologic Hazards Science Center in Golden, Colorado, where I studied post-fire debris flows. This research focused on advancing our understanding of the topographic, geologic, hydrologic, and meteorological conditions that influence the location, timing, and magnitude of post-fire debris flows for the purpose of improving hazard assessment and early warning.
Before starting my career at the U.S. Geological Survey, I was a Physical Scientist at the U.S. Forest Service in Golden, Colorado, where I focused on developing protocols for assessing the health and function of aquatic, riparian, and wetland ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains.
Professional Experience
2007 - Present: Research Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Golden CO and Anchorage AK
2001 - 2007: Physical Scientist, U.S. Forest Service, Golden CO
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis TN, 2006.
MSc. in Geography, University of Memphis, Memphis TN, 2000.
BA in Geography, State University of New York - College at Geneseo, Geneseo NY, 1998.
Affiliations and Memberships*
Fellow, Geological Society of America (2020)
E.B. Burwell Jr. Award, Geological Society of America Environmental and Engineering Geology Division (2019)
Honor Award for Superior Service, U.S. Department of Interior (2016)
Meritorious Service Award, Environmental and Engineering Geology Division of the Geological Society of America (2015)
Best Paper Award in Landslides, International Landslide Consortium (2013)
Science and Products
Landslides after wildfire: Initiation, magnitude, and mobility
Predicting the floods that follow the flames
Conceptual framework for assessing disturbance impacts on debris-flow initiation thresholds across hydroclimatic settings
Thresholds for post-wildfire debris flows: Insights from the Pinal Fire, Arizona, USA
Developing and testing physically based triggering thresholds for runoff‐generated debris flows
An evaluation of debris-flow runout model accuracy and complexity in Montecito, CA: Towards a framework for regional inundation-hazard forecasting
Looking through the window of disturbance at post-wildfire debris-flow hazards
Topographic change detection at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, using Airborne LiDAR and UAS-based Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry
Post-fire rockfall and debris-flow hazard zonation in the Eagle Creek Fire burn area, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon: a tool for emergency managers and first responders
Inundation, flow dynamics, and damage in the 9 January 2018 Montecito Debris-Flow Event, California, USA: Opportunities and challenges for post-wildfire risk assessment
Estimating post-fire debris-flow hazards prior to wildfire using a statistical analysis of historical distributions of fire severity from remote sensing data
Incorporating spatially heterogeneous infiltration capacity into hydrologic models with applications for simulating post‐wildfire debris flow initiation
Hillslope hydrologic monitoring data following the 2009 Station Fire, Los Angeles County, California, November 2015 to June 2017
Data used to characterize the historical distribution of wildfire severity in the western United States in support of pre-fire assessment of debris-flow hazards
Post-wildfire debris-flow monitoring data, Arroyo Seco, 2009 Station Fire, Los Angeles County, California, November 2009 to March 2010.
Science and Products
Landslides after wildfire: Initiation, magnitude, and mobility
Predicting the floods that follow the flames
Conceptual framework for assessing disturbance impacts on debris-flow initiation thresholds across hydroclimatic settings
Thresholds for post-wildfire debris flows: Insights from the Pinal Fire, Arizona, USA
Developing and testing physically based triggering thresholds for runoff‐generated debris flows
An evaluation of debris-flow runout model accuracy and complexity in Montecito, CA: Towards a framework for regional inundation-hazard forecasting
Looking through the window of disturbance at post-wildfire debris-flow hazards
Topographic change detection at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA, using Airborne LiDAR and UAS-based Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry
Post-fire rockfall and debris-flow hazard zonation in the Eagle Creek Fire burn area, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon: a tool for emergency managers and first responders
Inundation, flow dynamics, and damage in the 9 January 2018 Montecito Debris-Flow Event, California, USA: Opportunities and challenges for post-wildfire risk assessment
Estimating post-fire debris-flow hazards prior to wildfire using a statistical analysis of historical distributions of fire severity from remote sensing data
Incorporating spatially heterogeneous infiltration capacity into hydrologic models with applications for simulating post‐wildfire debris flow initiation
Hillslope hydrologic monitoring data following the 2009 Station Fire, Los Angeles County, California, November 2015 to June 2017
Data used to characterize the historical distribution of wildfire severity in the western United States in support of pre-fire assessment of debris-flow hazards
Post-wildfire debris-flow monitoring data, Arroyo Seco, 2009 Station Fire, Los Angeles County, California, November 2009 to March 2010.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government