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Jaime Kostelnik is a geologist in the Landslide Hazards Program in Golden, CO
The 2025 Matai’an landslide in eastern Taiwan represents the largest landslide event ever recorded in the region and initiated a cascading hazard sequence involving landslide-dam formation and repeated dam-breach floods.
The 2025 Matai’an landslide in eastern Taiwan represents the largest landslide event ever recorded in the region and initiated a cascading hazard sequence involving landslide-dam formation and repeated dam-breach floods.
This talk focuses on cascading river hazards in Taiwan generated by landslides triggered by earthquakes and tropical cyclones. Drawing on case studies from Typhoon Morakot and the 2024 Hualien earthquake, I explore how sediment pulses move through river systems, reshaping channels and sustaining hazard long after the initial event.
This talk focuses on cascading river hazards in Taiwan generated by landslides triggered by earthquakes and tropical cyclones. Drawing on case studies from Typhoon Morakot and the 2024 Hualien earthquake, I explore how sediment pulses move through river systems, reshaping channels and sustaining hazard long after the initial event.
This presentation introduces NASA’s Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project and its suite of freely available satellite-derived products.
This presentation introduces NASA’s Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project and its suite of freely available satellite-derived products.
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.
When a landslide is recognized to be life-threatening, difficult decisions follow. Like, should the house be evacuated? Is the community safe enough? How much should be invested in mitigation? For the past two decades, we have been applying a quantitative risk management framework to inform these types of decisions.
When a landslide is recognized to be life-threatening, difficult decisions follow. Like, should the house be evacuated? Is the community safe enough? How much should be invested in mitigation? For the past two decades, we have been applying a quantitative risk management framework to inform these types of decisions.
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.
A range of flow types can be observed in steep, recently-burned terrain, but predicting the spatial distribution of debris flows resulting from a single storm event remains challenging.
A range of flow types can be observed in steep, recently-burned terrain, but predicting the spatial distribution of debris flows resulting from a single storm event remains challenging.
Optical remote sensing observations of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence revealed a significant amount of surface ejecta in the nearby Searles Lake, including one area where the surface ejecta was arranged in a repeating hexagonal “honeycomb” pattern.
Optical remote sensing observations of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence revealed a significant amount of surface ejecta in the nearby Searles Lake, including one area where the surface ejecta was arranged in a repeating hexagonal “honeycomb” pattern.
In the mid-1980s, Art Schultz (USGS, ret.) drew on experiences in the Colorado Front Range to identify numerous large, stratigraphically intact, kilometer-scale bedrock landslides on interbedded sandstone-shale dip slopes in the Virginia Valley and Ridge.
In the mid-1980s, Art Schultz (USGS, ret.) drew on experiences in the Colorado Front Range to identify numerous large, stratigraphically intact, kilometer-scale bedrock landslides on interbedded sandstone-shale dip slopes in the Virginia Valley and Ridge.
Wyoming’s diverse topography is host to a wide range of landslide types, density, and susceptibility. Landslides are common in multiple regions of the state, and several high-profile events in the past decade have damaged property, disrupted transportation corridors, and led to substantial economic loss.
Wyoming’s diverse topography is host to a wide range of landslide types, density, and susceptibility. Landslides are common in multiple regions of the state, and several high-profile events in the past decade have damaged property, disrupted transportation corridors, and led to substantial economic loss.
The recently published landslide inventory for most landslide-prone areas in Minnesota provides the basis for generation of landslide susceptibility maps. These maps are derived from logistic regression analysis of mapped landslide occurrences, terrain characteristics, and Quaternary geological mapping.
The recently published landslide inventory for most landslide-prone areas in Minnesota provides the basis for generation of landslide susceptibility maps. These maps are derived from logistic regression analysis of mapped landslide occurrences, terrain characteristics, and Quaternary geological mapping.
Post-fire debris flows are often observed during the first rainy season following a wildfire, but it is unclear how long the elevated threat of debris flow persists. We constrained a hydrologic model using field and remotely sensed measurements of soil-infiltration capacity, vegetation cover, runoff, and debris-flow activity.
Post-fire debris flows are often observed during the first rainy season following a wildfire, but it is unclear how long the elevated threat of debris flow persists. We constrained a hydrologic model using field and remotely sensed measurements of soil-infiltration capacity, vegetation cover, runoff, and debris-flow activity.
Heavy rainfall on the afternoon of August 3, 2022 triggered a debris flow in the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn area. A USGS monitoring station installed in the drainage basin captured video footage of the flow. This clip of the video shows the flow from 13:43:00 MDT to 13:45:32 MDT.
0:00 (13:43 MDT) Start of Video
Heavy rainfall on the afternoon of August 3, 2022 triggered a debris flow in the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn area. A USGS monitoring station installed in the drainage basin captured video footage of the flow. This clip of the video shows the flow from 13:43:00 MDT to 13:45:32 MDT.
0:00 (13:43 MDT) Start of Video
During the late Oligocene to early Miocene, the Marysvale volcanic field of southwestern Utah experienced three consecutive, catastrophic, mega-scale collapse events: the Sevier, Markagunt, and Black Mountains gravity slides, which we refer to collectively as the Marysvale gravity slide complex (MGSC).
During the late Oligocene to early Miocene, the Marysvale volcanic field of southwestern Utah experienced three consecutive, catastrophic, mega-scale collapse events: the Sevier, Markagunt, and Black Mountains gravity slides, which we refer to collectively as the Marysvale gravity slide complex (MGSC).
On July 4, 2022, intense rainfall triggered this debris flow that damaged a home in the 2021 Muckamuck Fire in north-central Washington.
On July 4, 2022, intense rainfall triggered this debris flow that damaged a home in the 2021 Muckamuck Fire in north-central Washington.
Landslides display a broad spectrum of speeds for incompletely known reasons. Sliding occurs along slickensided undulatory shear surfaces within boundary shear gouge comprising clay mineral and non-clay (granular) particle mixtures, similar to tectonic fault gouge.
Landslides display a broad spectrum of speeds for incompletely known reasons. Sliding occurs along slickensided undulatory shear surfaces within boundary shear gouge comprising clay mineral and non-clay (granular) particle mixtures, similar to tectonic fault gouge.
During September 2017, Hurricane Maria triggered >70,000 slope failures throughout the mountainous regions of Puerto Rico (USA). Since then, the USGS has had a multi-faceted team working to understand landslide hazards in Puerto Rico.
During September 2017, Hurricane Maria triggered >70,000 slope failures throughout the mountainous regions of Puerto Rico (USA). Since then, the USGS has had a multi-faceted team working to understand landslide hazards in Puerto Rico.
Building and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
Building and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
Calwood burn area, Heil Ranch post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:07 MDT to 14:13:11 MDT.
Calwood burn area, Heil Ranch post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:07 MDT to 14:13:11 MDT.
Calwood burn area, Calwood post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:06 MDT to 14:13:05 MDT.
Calwood burn area, Calwood post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:06 MDT to 14:13:05 MDT.
The 2025 Matai’an landslide in eastern Taiwan represents the largest landslide event ever recorded in the region and initiated a cascading hazard sequence involving landslide-dam formation and repeated dam-breach floods.
The 2025 Matai’an landslide in eastern Taiwan represents the largest landslide event ever recorded in the region and initiated a cascading hazard sequence involving landslide-dam formation and repeated dam-breach floods.
This talk focuses on cascading river hazards in Taiwan generated by landslides triggered by earthquakes and tropical cyclones. Drawing on case studies from Typhoon Morakot and the 2024 Hualien earthquake, I explore how sediment pulses move through river systems, reshaping channels and sustaining hazard long after the initial event.
This talk focuses on cascading river hazards in Taiwan generated by landslides triggered by earthquakes and tropical cyclones. Drawing on case studies from Typhoon Morakot and the 2024 Hualien earthquake, I explore how sediment pulses move through river systems, reshaping channels and sustaining hazard long after the initial event.
This presentation introduces NASA’s Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project and its suite of freely available satellite-derived products.
This presentation introduces NASA’s Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project and its suite of freely available satellite-derived products.
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.
When a landslide is recognized to be life-threatening, difficult decisions follow. Like, should the house be evacuated? Is the community safe enough? How much should be invested in mitigation? For the past two decades, we have been applying a quantitative risk management framework to inform these types of decisions.
When a landslide is recognized to be life-threatening, difficult decisions follow. Like, should the house be evacuated? Is the community safe enough? How much should be invested in mitigation? For the past two decades, we have been applying a quantitative risk management framework to inform these types of decisions.
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.
A range of flow types can be observed in steep, recently-burned terrain, but predicting the spatial distribution of debris flows resulting from a single storm event remains challenging.
A range of flow types can be observed in steep, recently-burned terrain, but predicting the spatial distribution of debris flows resulting from a single storm event remains challenging.
Optical remote sensing observations of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence revealed a significant amount of surface ejecta in the nearby Searles Lake, including one area where the surface ejecta was arranged in a repeating hexagonal “honeycomb” pattern.
Optical remote sensing observations of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence revealed a significant amount of surface ejecta in the nearby Searles Lake, including one area where the surface ejecta was arranged in a repeating hexagonal “honeycomb” pattern.
In the mid-1980s, Art Schultz (USGS, ret.) drew on experiences in the Colorado Front Range to identify numerous large, stratigraphically intact, kilometer-scale bedrock landslides on interbedded sandstone-shale dip slopes in the Virginia Valley and Ridge.
In the mid-1980s, Art Schultz (USGS, ret.) drew on experiences in the Colorado Front Range to identify numerous large, stratigraphically intact, kilometer-scale bedrock landslides on interbedded sandstone-shale dip slopes in the Virginia Valley and Ridge.
Wyoming’s diverse topography is host to a wide range of landslide types, density, and susceptibility. Landslides are common in multiple regions of the state, and several high-profile events in the past decade have damaged property, disrupted transportation corridors, and led to substantial economic loss.
Wyoming’s diverse topography is host to a wide range of landslide types, density, and susceptibility. Landslides are common in multiple regions of the state, and several high-profile events in the past decade have damaged property, disrupted transportation corridors, and led to substantial economic loss.
The recently published landslide inventory for most landslide-prone areas in Minnesota provides the basis for generation of landslide susceptibility maps. These maps are derived from logistic regression analysis of mapped landslide occurrences, terrain characteristics, and Quaternary geological mapping.
The recently published landslide inventory for most landslide-prone areas in Minnesota provides the basis for generation of landslide susceptibility maps. These maps are derived from logistic regression analysis of mapped landslide occurrences, terrain characteristics, and Quaternary geological mapping.
Post-fire debris flows are often observed during the first rainy season following a wildfire, but it is unclear how long the elevated threat of debris flow persists. We constrained a hydrologic model using field and remotely sensed measurements of soil-infiltration capacity, vegetation cover, runoff, and debris-flow activity.
Post-fire debris flows are often observed during the first rainy season following a wildfire, but it is unclear how long the elevated threat of debris flow persists. We constrained a hydrologic model using field and remotely sensed measurements of soil-infiltration capacity, vegetation cover, runoff, and debris-flow activity.
Heavy rainfall on the afternoon of August 3, 2022 triggered a debris flow in the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn area. A USGS monitoring station installed in the drainage basin captured video footage of the flow. This clip of the video shows the flow from 13:43:00 MDT to 13:45:32 MDT.
0:00 (13:43 MDT) Start of Video
Heavy rainfall on the afternoon of August 3, 2022 triggered a debris flow in the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn area. A USGS monitoring station installed in the drainage basin captured video footage of the flow. This clip of the video shows the flow from 13:43:00 MDT to 13:45:32 MDT.
0:00 (13:43 MDT) Start of Video
During the late Oligocene to early Miocene, the Marysvale volcanic field of southwestern Utah experienced three consecutive, catastrophic, mega-scale collapse events: the Sevier, Markagunt, and Black Mountains gravity slides, which we refer to collectively as the Marysvale gravity slide complex (MGSC).
During the late Oligocene to early Miocene, the Marysvale volcanic field of southwestern Utah experienced three consecutive, catastrophic, mega-scale collapse events: the Sevier, Markagunt, and Black Mountains gravity slides, which we refer to collectively as the Marysvale gravity slide complex (MGSC).
On July 4, 2022, intense rainfall triggered this debris flow that damaged a home in the 2021 Muckamuck Fire in north-central Washington.
On July 4, 2022, intense rainfall triggered this debris flow that damaged a home in the 2021 Muckamuck Fire in north-central Washington.
Landslides display a broad spectrum of speeds for incompletely known reasons. Sliding occurs along slickensided undulatory shear surfaces within boundary shear gouge comprising clay mineral and non-clay (granular) particle mixtures, similar to tectonic fault gouge.
Landslides display a broad spectrum of speeds for incompletely known reasons. Sliding occurs along slickensided undulatory shear surfaces within boundary shear gouge comprising clay mineral and non-clay (granular) particle mixtures, similar to tectonic fault gouge.
During September 2017, Hurricane Maria triggered >70,000 slope failures throughout the mountainous regions of Puerto Rico (USA). Since then, the USGS has had a multi-faceted team working to understand landslide hazards in Puerto Rico.
During September 2017, Hurricane Maria triggered >70,000 slope failures throughout the mountainous regions of Puerto Rico (USA). Since then, the USGS has had a multi-faceted team working to understand landslide hazards in Puerto Rico.
Building and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
Building and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
Calwood burn area, Heil Ranch post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:07 MDT to 14:13:11 MDT.
Calwood burn area, Heil Ranch post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:07 MDT to 14:13:11 MDT.
Calwood burn area, Calwood post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:06 MDT to 14:13:05 MDT.
Calwood burn area, Calwood post-fire debris-flow monitoring station video footage from rainstorm on July 31, 2021 from 14:06 MDT to 14:13:05 MDT.