Francis Rengers
I investigate landslide and debris flow processes, primarily after wildfire.
General Research Statement:
My work leverages high-resolution topography from airborne and ground-based lidar, as well as drone-based structure-from-motion, to characterize the controls on mass movement after wildfire. I also use modeling and field-instrumentation to characterize how wildfire creates the hydrologic and soil conditions that lead to sedimentation hazards. My work is primarily focused in the semi-arid portions of the Western United States, and I have worked on projects in Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. In addition, I serve as an adjunct professor at the Colorado School of Mines, I advise USGS post-docs, and I am currently serving on Ph.D. thesis committees at several universities.
Education:
- Ph.D., Geology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. 2014. The Influence of Transient Perturbations on Landscape Evolution: Exploring Gully Erosion and Post-Wildfire Erosion.
- M. S., Geology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 2005. Grain Size Trends of Gravel Bars on the Rio Chagres, Panama
- B. S., Geology, Summa Cum Laude, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. 2003. Spatial Analysis of Landforms on Reclaimed Surface Mines of Monongalia County
- B. A., French, Summa Cum Laude, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. 2003
Professional Appointments:
2016-present Research Geologist
2014-2016 Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Staley, D.M., Kean, J.W., Rengers, F.K. 2020. The recurrence interval of post-fire debris-flow generating rainfall in the southwestern United States. Geomorphology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107392
Rengers, F.K., McGuire, L.A., Oakley, N.S., Tang, H., Kean, J.W., and Staley, D.M. 2020. Landslides after Wildfire: initiation, magnitude, and mobility after fire. Landslides. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01506-3
Rengers, F.K., Kean, J.W., Reitman, N.G., Smith, J.B., Coe, J.A., McGuire, L.A., 2020. The Influence of Frost Weathering on Debris Flow Sediment Supply in an Alpine Basin. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 125, e2019JF005369. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JF005369
Wall, S., Roering, J., Rengers, F.K., 2020. Runoff-initiated post-fire debris flow Western Cascades, Oregon. Landslides. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-020-01376-9
Rapstine, T.D., Rengers, F.K., Allstadt, K.E., Iverson, R.M., Smith, J.B., Obryk, M.K., Logan, M. Olsen, M.J. 2020. Reconstructing the velocity and deformation of a rapid landslide using multiview video. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JF005348
Kean, Jason W., Staley, D.M., Lancaster, J.T., Rengers, F.K., Swanson, B.J., Coe, J.A., Hernandez, J.L., Sigman, A.J., Allst
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 28
UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
This dataset contains a point cloud (HalletPeak_PointCloud.las), digital elevation model (HalletPeak_DEM.tif), and orthoimagery (HalletPeak_Ortho.tif) of a debris slide originating on the southeast flank of Hallett Peak and sliding into Upper Chaos Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA. The slide occurred on 28 June 2022, and imagery was obtained on 15 July 2022. These...
Airborne Lidar Data (2016 and 2021) Capturing Debris Flow Erosion and Deposition after the Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado Airborne Lidar Data (2016 and 2021) Capturing Debris Flow Erosion and Deposition after the Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
This dataset contains lidar digital elevation models (DEMs). The lidar data were collected before (2016) and after (2021) the Grizzly Creek Fire, which occurred in 2020. The 2016 lidar was collected during a series of flights between 10 June and 7 October 2016. The 2021 lidar flight was conducted in full on 24 August 2021. The files are named with the following convention: Vendor_Year...
Field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex, River, Camel, and Dolan Fires following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence Field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex, River, Camel, and Dolan Fires following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence
This data release is a field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU (San Mateo–Santa Cruz Unit) Lightning Complex, River Fire, Camel Fire, and Dolan Fire following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence. Postfire hydrologic response types include a) no response, b) minor response, and c) major response. A “minor” response was deemed capable of...
Tadpole Fire Field Measurements following the 8 September 2020 Debris Flow, Gila National Forest, NM Tadpole Fire Field Measurements following the 8 September 2020 Debris Flow, Gila National Forest, NM
This data release contains data summarizing observations within and adjacent to the Tadpole Fire, which burned from 6 June to 4 July 2020 in the Gila National Forest, NM. This monitoring data were focused on debris flows triggered on 8 September 2020 in four drainage basins (TAD1, TAD2, TAD3, and TAD4). Rainfall data (1a_rain_geophones.csv) are provided in a comma-separated value (CSV)...
Reclassified lidar point cloud data from 2016 LARIAC and 2019 NCALM collections covering part of the Woolsey wildfire near Malibu, California Reclassified lidar point cloud data from 2016 LARIAC and 2019 NCALM collections covering part of the Woolsey wildfire near Malibu, California
These lidar data are derived from two airborne lidar surveys: a 2016 Los Angeles Region Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) survey, and a 2019 National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) survey. These data were reclassified in order to improve the classification of ground points, and to make the classification of both datasets as consistent as possible. The NCALM data had...
Post-wildfire debris-flow monitoring data, 2019 Woodbury Fire, Superstition Mountains, Arizona, USA November 2019 to February 2020 Post-wildfire debris-flow monitoring data, 2019 Woodbury Fire, Superstition Mountains, Arizona, USA November 2019 to February 2020
This data release contains data summarizing observations within and adjacent to the Woodbury Fire, which burned from 8 June to 15 July 2019. In particular, this monitoring data was focused on debris flows in burned and unburned areas. Rainfall data (1_Woodbury_Rainfall.zip) are contained in comma-separated value (CSV) files named ?Wdby_Rainfall? appended with the names of 3 rain gages...
Soil moisture monitoring following the 2009 Station Fire, California, USA, 2016-2019 Soil moisture monitoring following the 2009 Station Fire, California, USA, 2016-2019
This data release includes 2016-2019 soil moisture timeseries for two drainage basins ("Arroyo Seco" and "Dunsmore Canyon") that burned during the 2009 Station Fire in Los Angeles County, California, USA. The Arroyo Seco (0.01 km2) and Dunsmore Canyon (0.5 km2) drainages include two soil pits, one located near the drainage divide and another near the basin outlet. Following the naming...
Data supporting an analysis of the recurrence interval of post-fire debris-flow generating rainfall in the southwestern United States Data supporting an analysis of the recurrence interval of post-fire debris-flow generating rainfall in the southwestern United States
This data release supports the analysis of the recurrence interval of post-fire debris-flow generating rainfall in the southwestern United States. We define the recurrence interval of the peak 15-, 30-, and 60-minute rainfall intensities for 316 observations of post-fire debris-flow occurrence in 18 burn areas, 5 U.S. states, and 7 climate types. These data support the analysis described...
Inventory of landslides triggered by rainfall on 16-17 January 2019, Los Angeles County, CA Inventory of landslides triggered by rainfall on 16-17 January 2019, Los Angeles County, CA
This dataset contains 286 landslide polygons mapped after a rainstorm on 16-17 January 2019. The majority of the landslides are located in the burn areas of the 2016 San Gabriel Complex fire, the 2014 Colby fire, and the 2009 Morris fire. A smaller number of additional landslides were located in nearby unburned areas. More information about the burn perimeters associated with this...
Lidar data for gate release experiment at the USGS Debris-Flow Flume 24 and 25 May 2017 Lidar data for gate release experiment at the USGS Debris-Flow Flume 24 and 25 May 2017
Lidar data was collected on 24 and 25 May 2017 at the USGS debris-flow flume to monitor two gate-release debris flow experiments. A static prism of sediment was emplaced behind a gate at the top of the flume. Water was added via sprinklers to the surface and also via pipes to the subsurface, in order to saturate the sediment mass. The sediment mass moved down the flume as a debris flow...
Lidar data for natural release experiment at the USGS Debris Flow Flume 17 May 2017 Lidar data for natural release experiment at the USGS Debris Flow Flume 17 May 2017
Lidar data were collected on 17 May 2017 at the USGS debris-flow flume (44.215, -122.254) to monitor the movement of a constructed landslide experiment. A static prism of sediment was emplaced behind a retaining wall at the top of the flume. Water was added via sprinklers to the surface and also via pipes to the subsurface, in order to saturate the sediment mass. The sediment mass...
Chalk Cliffs Channel Surveys derived from Structure-from-Motion Chalk Cliffs Channel Surveys derived from Structure-from-Motion
This data release contains two point clouds derived from structure-from-motion photogrammetry. The first survey was conducted on 10 September 2015 and the second survey was conducted on 1 June 2016. Each survey was designed to capture a 35-meter channel reach using digital photos (1187 photos were taken in the first survey and 1085 photos were taken in the second survey). Twenty-five...
Filter Total Items: 68
Characteristics of debris-flow-prone watersheds and debris-flow-triggering rainstorms following the Tadpole Fire, New Mexico, USA Characteristics of debris-flow-prone watersheds and debris-flow-triggering rainstorms following the Tadpole Fire, New Mexico, USA
Moderate- or high-severity fires promote increases in runoff and erosion, leading to a greater likelihood of extreme geomorphic responses, including debris flows. In the first several years following fire, the majority of debris flows initiate when runoff rapidly entrains sediment on steep slopes. From a hazard perspective, it is important to be able to anticipate when and where...
Authors
Luke A. McGuire, Francis K. Rengers, Ann Youberg, Alexander Gorr, Olivia J. Hoch, Rebecca Beers, Ryan Porter
Post-wildfire debris flows Post-wildfire debris flows
Post-wildfire debris flows pose severe hazards to communities and infrastructure near and within recently burned mountainous terrain. Intense heat of wildfires changes the runoff characteristics of a watershed by combusting the vegetative canopy, litter, and duff, introducing ash into the soil and creating water repellant soils. Following wildfire, rainfall on bare ground is less able to
Authors
Joseph Gartner, Jason W. Kean, Francis K. Rengers, Scott W. McCoy, Nina S. Oakley, Gary J. Sheridan
The 2022 Chaos Canyon landslide in Colorado: Insights revealed by seismic analysis, field investigations, and remote sensing The 2022 Chaos Canyon landslide in Colorado: Insights revealed by seismic analysis, field investigations, and remote sensing
An unusual, high-alpine, rapid debris slide originating in ice-rich debris occurred on June 28, 2022, at 16:33:16 MDT at the head of Chaos Canyon, a formerly glacier-covered valley in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, USA. In this study, we integrate eyewitness videos and seismic records of the event with meteorological data, field observations, pre- and post-event satellite imagery, and...
Authors
Kate E. Allstadt, Jeffrey A. Coe, Elaine Collins, Francis K. Rengers, Anne Mangeney, Scott M. Esser, Jana Pursley, William L. Yeck, John Bellini, Lance R. Brady
Bedrock erosion by debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Implications for bedrock channel evolution Bedrock erosion by debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Implications for bedrock channel evolution
Debris flow erosion into bedrock helps to set the pace of mountain denudation, but there are few empirical observations of this process. We studied the effects of debris flows on bedrock erosion using Structure-From-Motion photogrammetry and multiple real-time monitoring measurements. We found that the distribution of bedrock erosion across the channel cross-section could be generalized...
Authors
Francis K. Rengers, Jason W. Kean, Jeffrey A. Coe, Megan Hanson, Joel Smith
Forecasting the inundation of postfire debris flows Forecasting the inundation of postfire debris flows
In the semi-arid regions of the western United States, postfire debris flows are typically runoff generated. The U.S. Geological Survey has been studying the mechanisms of postfire debris-flow initiation for multiple decades to generate operational models for forecasting the timing, location, and magnitude of postfire debris flows. Here we discuss challenges and progress for extending...
Authors
Katherine R. Barnhart, Ryan P Jones, David L. George, Francis K. Rengers, Jason W. Kean
Postfire hydrologic response along the central California (USA) coast: Insights for the emergency assessment of postfire debris-flow hazards Postfire hydrologic response along the central California (USA) coast: Insights for the emergency assessment of postfire debris-flow hazards
The steep, tectonically active terrain along the Central California (USA) coast is well known to produce deadly and destructive debris flows. However, the extent to which fire affects debris-flow susceptibility in this region is an open question. We documented the occurrence of postfire debris floods and flows following the landfall of a storm that delivered intense rainfall across...
Authors
Matthew A. Thomas, Jason W. Kean, Scott W. McCoy, Donald N. Lindsay, Jaime Kostelnik, David B. Cavagnaro, Francis K. Rengers, Amy E. East, Jonathan Schwartz, Douglas P. Smith, Brian D. Collins
Importance of subsurface water for hydrological response during storms in a post-wildfire bedrock landscape Importance of subsurface water for hydrological response during storms in a post-wildfire bedrock landscape
Wildfire alters the hydrologic cycle, with important implications for water supply and hazards including flooding and debris flows. In this study we use a combination of electrical resistivity and stable water isotope analyses to investigate the hydrologic response during storms in three catchments: one unburned and two burned during the 2020 Bobcat Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains...
Authors
Abra Atwood, Madeline Hille, Marin Clark, Francis K. Rengers, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Kirk Townsend, A. Joshua West
The influence of large woody debris on post-wildfire debris flow sediment storage The influence of large woody debris on post-wildfire debris flow sediment storage
Debris flows transport large quantities of water and granular material, such as sediment and wood, and this mixture can have devastating impacts on life and infrastructure. The proportion of large woody debris (LWD) incorporated into debris flows can be enhanced in forested areas recently burned by wildfire, because wood recruitment into channels accelerates in burned forests. In this...
Authors
Francis K. Rengers, Luke A. McGuire, Katherine R. Barnhart, Ann Youberg, Daniel Cadol, Alexander Gorr, Olivia J. Hoch, Rebecca Beers, Jason W. Kean
Guidance for parameterizing post-fire hydrologic models with in situ infiltration measurements Guidance for parameterizing post-fire hydrologic models with in situ infiltration measurements
Wildfire can alter soil-hydraulic properties, often resulting in an increased prevalence of infiltration-excess overland flow and greater potential for debris-flow hazards. Mini disk tension infiltrometers (MDIs) can be used to estimate soil hydraulic properties, such as field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) and wetting front potential (Hf), and their spatial variability following...
Authors
T. Liu, Luke A. McGuire, Ann Youberg, Alexander N. Gorr, Francis K. Rengers
A review of common natural disasters as analogs for asteroid impact effects and cascading hazards A review of common natural disasters as analogs for asteroid impact effects and cascading hazards
Modern civilization has no collective experience with possible wide-ranging effects from a medium-sized asteroid impactor. Currently, modeling efforts that predict initial effects from a meteor impact or airburst provide needed information for initial preparation and evacuation plans, but longer-term cascading hazards are not typically considered. However, more common natural disasters...
Authors
Timothy N. Titus, D. G. Robertson, Joel B. Sankey, Larry G. Mastin, Francis K. Rengers
Simulating debris flow and levee formation in the 2D shallow flow model D-Claw: Channelized and unconfined flow Simulating debris flow and levee formation in the 2D shallow flow model D-Claw: Channelized and unconfined flow
Debris flow runout poses a hazard to life and infrastructure. The expansion of human population into mountainous areas and onto alluvial fans increases the need to predict and mitigate debris flow runout hazards. Debris flows on unconfined alluvial fans can exhibit spontaneous self-channelization through levee formation that reduces lateral spreading and extends runout distances compared...
Authors
Ryan P. Jones, Francis K. Rengers, Katherine R. Barnhart, David L. George, Dennis M. Staley, Jason W. Kean
A progressive flow-routing model for rapid assessment of debris-flow inundation A progressive flow-routing model for rapid assessment of debris-flow inundation
Debris flows pose a significant hazard to communities in mountainous areas, and there is a continued need for methods to delineate hazard zones associated with debris-flow inundation. In certain situations, such as scenarios following wildfire, where there could be an abrupt increase in the likelihood and size of debris flows that necessitates a rapid hazard assessment, the computational...
Authors
Alexander Gorr, Luke A. McGuire, Ann Youberg, Francis K. Rengers
Non-USGS Publications**
Rengers, F., Lunacek, M., and Tucker, G. 2016. Application of an Evolutionary Algorithm for Parameter Optimization in a Gully Erosion Model, Environmental Modelling & Software. 80, 297-305. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.02.033
Rengers, F. and Tucker G. 2015. The evolution of gully headcut morphology: a case study using terrestrial laser scanning and hydrological monitoring. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. doi: 10.1002/esp.3721
Ebel, B., Rengers, F., Tucker, G. 2015. Aspect-dependent soil saturation and insight into debris-flow initiation during extreme rainfall in the Colorado Front Range. Geology. 43, 8, p. 659-652. doi: 10.1130/G36741.1
Rengers, F. and Tucker, G. 2014. Analysis and modeling of gully headcut dynamics, North American high plains. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 119, doi:10.1002/2013JF002962.
Rengers, F. and Tucker, G. 2013. Processes and rates of headcut migration in eastern Colorado gullies: West Bijou Creek field trip guide. Geological Society of America Field Guide 33.
Rengers, F. and Wohl, E. 2006. Trends of grain sizes on gravel bars in the Rio Chagres, Panama. Geomorphology. 83, 3-4, p. 282-293.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 28
UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
This dataset contains a point cloud (HalletPeak_PointCloud.las), digital elevation model (HalletPeak_DEM.tif), and orthoimagery (HalletPeak_Ortho.tif) of a debris slide originating on the southeast flank of Hallett Peak and sliding into Upper Chaos Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA. The slide occurred on 28 June 2022, and imagery was obtained on 15 July 2022. These...
Airborne Lidar Data (2016 and 2021) Capturing Debris Flow Erosion and Deposition after the Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado Airborne Lidar Data (2016 and 2021) Capturing Debris Flow Erosion and Deposition after the Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
This dataset contains lidar digital elevation models (DEMs). The lidar data were collected before (2016) and after (2021) the Grizzly Creek Fire, which occurred in 2020. The 2016 lidar was collected during a series of flights between 10 June and 7 October 2016. The 2021 lidar flight was conducted in full on 24 August 2021. The files are named with the following convention: Vendor_Year...
Field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex, River, Camel, and Dolan Fires following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence Field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex, River, Camel, and Dolan Fires following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence
This data release is a field-verified inventory of postfire hydrologic response for the 2020 CZU (San Mateo–Santa Cruz Unit) Lightning Complex, River Fire, Camel Fire, and Dolan Fire following a 26-29 January 2021 atmospheric river storm sequence. Postfire hydrologic response types include a) no response, b) minor response, and c) major response. A “minor” response was deemed capable of...
Tadpole Fire Field Measurements following the 8 September 2020 Debris Flow, Gila National Forest, NM Tadpole Fire Field Measurements following the 8 September 2020 Debris Flow, Gila National Forest, NM
This data release contains data summarizing observations within and adjacent to the Tadpole Fire, which burned from 6 June to 4 July 2020 in the Gila National Forest, NM. This monitoring data were focused on debris flows triggered on 8 September 2020 in four drainage basins (TAD1, TAD2, TAD3, and TAD4). Rainfall data (1a_rain_geophones.csv) are provided in a comma-separated value (CSV)...
Reclassified lidar point cloud data from 2016 LARIAC and 2019 NCALM collections covering part of the Woolsey wildfire near Malibu, California Reclassified lidar point cloud data from 2016 LARIAC and 2019 NCALM collections covering part of the Woolsey wildfire near Malibu, California
These lidar data are derived from two airborne lidar surveys: a 2016 Los Angeles Region Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) survey, and a 2019 National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) survey. These data were reclassified in order to improve the classification of ground points, and to make the classification of both datasets as consistent as possible. The NCALM data had...
Post-wildfire debris-flow monitoring data, 2019 Woodbury Fire, Superstition Mountains, Arizona, USA November 2019 to February 2020 Post-wildfire debris-flow monitoring data, 2019 Woodbury Fire, Superstition Mountains, Arizona, USA November 2019 to February 2020
This data release contains data summarizing observations within and adjacent to the Woodbury Fire, which burned from 8 June to 15 July 2019. In particular, this monitoring data was focused on debris flows in burned and unburned areas. Rainfall data (1_Woodbury_Rainfall.zip) are contained in comma-separated value (CSV) files named ?Wdby_Rainfall? appended with the names of 3 rain gages...
Soil moisture monitoring following the 2009 Station Fire, California, USA, 2016-2019 Soil moisture monitoring following the 2009 Station Fire, California, USA, 2016-2019
This data release includes 2016-2019 soil moisture timeseries for two drainage basins ("Arroyo Seco" and "Dunsmore Canyon") that burned during the 2009 Station Fire in Los Angeles County, California, USA. The Arroyo Seco (0.01 km2) and Dunsmore Canyon (0.5 km2) drainages include two soil pits, one located near the drainage divide and another near the basin outlet. Following the naming...
Data supporting an analysis of the recurrence interval of post-fire debris-flow generating rainfall in the southwestern United States Data supporting an analysis of the recurrence interval of post-fire debris-flow generating rainfall in the southwestern United States
This data release supports the analysis of the recurrence interval of post-fire debris-flow generating rainfall in the southwestern United States. We define the recurrence interval of the peak 15-, 30-, and 60-minute rainfall intensities for 316 observations of post-fire debris-flow occurrence in 18 burn areas, 5 U.S. states, and 7 climate types. These data support the analysis described...
Inventory of landslides triggered by rainfall on 16-17 January 2019, Los Angeles County, CA Inventory of landslides triggered by rainfall on 16-17 January 2019, Los Angeles County, CA
This dataset contains 286 landslide polygons mapped after a rainstorm on 16-17 January 2019. The majority of the landslides are located in the burn areas of the 2016 San Gabriel Complex fire, the 2014 Colby fire, and the 2009 Morris fire. A smaller number of additional landslides were located in nearby unburned areas. More information about the burn perimeters associated with this...
Lidar data for gate release experiment at the USGS Debris-Flow Flume 24 and 25 May 2017 Lidar data for gate release experiment at the USGS Debris-Flow Flume 24 and 25 May 2017
Lidar data was collected on 24 and 25 May 2017 at the USGS debris-flow flume to monitor two gate-release debris flow experiments. A static prism of sediment was emplaced behind a gate at the top of the flume. Water was added via sprinklers to the surface and also via pipes to the subsurface, in order to saturate the sediment mass. The sediment mass moved down the flume as a debris flow...
Lidar data for natural release experiment at the USGS Debris Flow Flume 17 May 2017 Lidar data for natural release experiment at the USGS Debris Flow Flume 17 May 2017
Lidar data were collected on 17 May 2017 at the USGS debris-flow flume (44.215, -122.254) to monitor the movement of a constructed landslide experiment. A static prism of sediment was emplaced behind a retaining wall at the top of the flume. Water was added via sprinklers to the surface and also via pipes to the subsurface, in order to saturate the sediment mass. The sediment mass...
Chalk Cliffs Channel Surveys derived from Structure-from-Motion Chalk Cliffs Channel Surveys derived from Structure-from-Motion
This data release contains two point clouds derived from structure-from-motion photogrammetry. The first survey was conducted on 10 September 2015 and the second survey was conducted on 1 June 2016. Each survey was designed to capture a 35-meter channel reach using digital photos (1187 photos were taken in the first survey and 1085 photos were taken in the second survey). Twenty-five...
Filter Total Items: 68
Characteristics of debris-flow-prone watersheds and debris-flow-triggering rainstorms following the Tadpole Fire, New Mexico, USA Characteristics of debris-flow-prone watersheds and debris-flow-triggering rainstorms following the Tadpole Fire, New Mexico, USA
Moderate- or high-severity fires promote increases in runoff and erosion, leading to a greater likelihood of extreme geomorphic responses, including debris flows. In the first several years following fire, the majority of debris flows initiate when runoff rapidly entrains sediment on steep slopes. From a hazard perspective, it is important to be able to anticipate when and where...
Authors
Luke A. McGuire, Francis K. Rengers, Ann Youberg, Alexander Gorr, Olivia J. Hoch, Rebecca Beers, Ryan Porter
Post-wildfire debris flows Post-wildfire debris flows
Post-wildfire debris flows pose severe hazards to communities and infrastructure near and within recently burned mountainous terrain. Intense heat of wildfires changes the runoff characteristics of a watershed by combusting the vegetative canopy, litter, and duff, introducing ash into the soil and creating water repellant soils. Following wildfire, rainfall on bare ground is less able to
Authors
Joseph Gartner, Jason W. Kean, Francis K. Rengers, Scott W. McCoy, Nina S. Oakley, Gary J. Sheridan
The 2022 Chaos Canyon landslide in Colorado: Insights revealed by seismic analysis, field investigations, and remote sensing The 2022 Chaos Canyon landslide in Colorado: Insights revealed by seismic analysis, field investigations, and remote sensing
An unusual, high-alpine, rapid debris slide originating in ice-rich debris occurred on June 28, 2022, at 16:33:16 MDT at the head of Chaos Canyon, a formerly glacier-covered valley in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, USA. In this study, we integrate eyewitness videos and seismic records of the event with meteorological data, field observations, pre- and post-event satellite imagery, and...
Authors
Kate E. Allstadt, Jeffrey A. Coe, Elaine Collins, Francis K. Rengers, Anne Mangeney, Scott M. Esser, Jana Pursley, William L. Yeck, John Bellini, Lance R. Brady
Bedrock erosion by debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Implications for bedrock channel evolution Bedrock erosion by debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Implications for bedrock channel evolution
Debris flow erosion into bedrock helps to set the pace of mountain denudation, but there are few empirical observations of this process. We studied the effects of debris flows on bedrock erosion using Structure-From-Motion photogrammetry and multiple real-time monitoring measurements. We found that the distribution of bedrock erosion across the channel cross-section could be generalized...
Authors
Francis K. Rengers, Jason W. Kean, Jeffrey A. Coe, Megan Hanson, Joel Smith
Forecasting the inundation of postfire debris flows Forecasting the inundation of postfire debris flows
In the semi-arid regions of the western United States, postfire debris flows are typically runoff generated. The U.S. Geological Survey has been studying the mechanisms of postfire debris-flow initiation for multiple decades to generate operational models for forecasting the timing, location, and magnitude of postfire debris flows. Here we discuss challenges and progress for extending...
Authors
Katherine R. Barnhart, Ryan P Jones, David L. George, Francis K. Rengers, Jason W. Kean
Postfire hydrologic response along the central California (USA) coast: Insights for the emergency assessment of postfire debris-flow hazards Postfire hydrologic response along the central California (USA) coast: Insights for the emergency assessment of postfire debris-flow hazards
The steep, tectonically active terrain along the Central California (USA) coast is well known to produce deadly and destructive debris flows. However, the extent to which fire affects debris-flow susceptibility in this region is an open question. We documented the occurrence of postfire debris floods and flows following the landfall of a storm that delivered intense rainfall across...
Authors
Matthew A. Thomas, Jason W. Kean, Scott W. McCoy, Donald N. Lindsay, Jaime Kostelnik, David B. Cavagnaro, Francis K. Rengers, Amy E. East, Jonathan Schwartz, Douglas P. Smith, Brian D. Collins
Importance of subsurface water for hydrological response during storms in a post-wildfire bedrock landscape Importance of subsurface water for hydrological response during storms in a post-wildfire bedrock landscape
Wildfire alters the hydrologic cycle, with important implications for water supply and hazards including flooding and debris flows. In this study we use a combination of electrical resistivity and stable water isotope analyses to investigate the hydrologic response during storms in three catchments: one unburned and two burned during the 2020 Bobcat Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains...
Authors
Abra Atwood, Madeline Hille, Marin Clark, Francis K. Rengers, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Kirk Townsend, A. Joshua West
The influence of large woody debris on post-wildfire debris flow sediment storage The influence of large woody debris on post-wildfire debris flow sediment storage
Debris flows transport large quantities of water and granular material, such as sediment and wood, and this mixture can have devastating impacts on life and infrastructure. The proportion of large woody debris (LWD) incorporated into debris flows can be enhanced in forested areas recently burned by wildfire, because wood recruitment into channels accelerates in burned forests. In this...
Authors
Francis K. Rengers, Luke A. McGuire, Katherine R. Barnhart, Ann Youberg, Daniel Cadol, Alexander Gorr, Olivia J. Hoch, Rebecca Beers, Jason W. Kean
Guidance for parameterizing post-fire hydrologic models with in situ infiltration measurements Guidance for parameterizing post-fire hydrologic models with in situ infiltration measurements
Wildfire can alter soil-hydraulic properties, often resulting in an increased prevalence of infiltration-excess overland flow and greater potential for debris-flow hazards. Mini disk tension infiltrometers (MDIs) can be used to estimate soil hydraulic properties, such as field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) and wetting front potential (Hf), and their spatial variability following...
Authors
T. Liu, Luke A. McGuire, Ann Youberg, Alexander N. Gorr, Francis K. Rengers
A review of common natural disasters as analogs for asteroid impact effects and cascading hazards A review of common natural disasters as analogs for asteroid impact effects and cascading hazards
Modern civilization has no collective experience with possible wide-ranging effects from a medium-sized asteroid impactor. Currently, modeling efforts that predict initial effects from a meteor impact or airburst provide needed information for initial preparation and evacuation plans, but longer-term cascading hazards are not typically considered. However, more common natural disasters...
Authors
Timothy N. Titus, D. G. Robertson, Joel B. Sankey, Larry G. Mastin, Francis K. Rengers
Simulating debris flow and levee formation in the 2D shallow flow model D-Claw: Channelized and unconfined flow Simulating debris flow and levee formation in the 2D shallow flow model D-Claw: Channelized and unconfined flow
Debris flow runout poses a hazard to life and infrastructure. The expansion of human population into mountainous areas and onto alluvial fans increases the need to predict and mitigate debris flow runout hazards. Debris flows on unconfined alluvial fans can exhibit spontaneous self-channelization through levee formation that reduces lateral spreading and extends runout distances compared...
Authors
Ryan P. Jones, Francis K. Rengers, Katherine R. Barnhart, David L. George, Dennis M. Staley, Jason W. Kean
A progressive flow-routing model for rapid assessment of debris-flow inundation A progressive flow-routing model for rapid assessment of debris-flow inundation
Debris flows pose a significant hazard to communities in mountainous areas, and there is a continued need for methods to delineate hazard zones associated with debris-flow inundation. In certain situations, such as scenarios following wildfire, where there could be an abrupt increase in the likelihood and size of debris flows that necessitates a rapid hazard assessment, the computational...
Authors
Alexander Gorr, Luke A. McGuire, Ann Youberg, Francis K. Rengers
Non-USGS Publications**
Rengers, F., Lunacek, M., and Tucker, G. 2016. Application of an Evolutionary Algorithm for Parameter Optimization in a Gully Erosion Model, Environmental Modelling & Software. 80, 297-305. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.02.033
Rengers, F. and Tucker G. 2015. The evolution of gully headcut morphology: a case study using terrestrial laser scanning and hydrological monitoring. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. doi: 10.1002/esp.3721
Ebel, B., Rengers, F., Tucker, G. 2015. Aspect-dependent soil saturation and insight into debris-flow initiation during extreme rainfall in the Colorado Front Range. Geology. 43, 8, p. 659-652. doi: 10.1130/G36741.1
Rengers, F. and Tucker, G. 2014. Analysis and modeling of gully headcut dynamics, North American high plains. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 119, doi:10.1002/2013JF002962.
Rengers, F. and Tucker, G. 2013. Processes and rates of headcut migration in eastern Colorado gullies: West Bijou Creek field trip guide. Geological Society of America Field Guide 33.
Rengers, F. and Wohl, E. 2006. Trends of grain sizes on gravel bars in the Rio Chagres, Panama. Geomorphology. 83, 3-4, p. 282-293.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.