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.
Jaime Kostelnik
Jaime Kostelnik is a geologist in the Landslide Hazards Program in Golden, CO
Science and Products
Dixie Fire Post-Fire Debris Flows: A Tale of Two Storms
This new geonarrative (Esri story map) highlights two storm events and their postfire impacts in the Dixie burn area.
Columbia River Gorge Landslides
Extreme rainfall during two atmospheric river events in January 2021 and January 2022 triggered a series of debris flows in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. The flows had significant impacts, including multiple highway closures and one fatality. This story map highlights rainfall data and observations of debris flow deposits by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)...
Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, Flooding and Debris Flows: 2021
Summer storms on the Grizzly Creek burn area have resulted in repeated flooding and debris flows that are having enormous impacts in Glenwood Canyon. This Story Map collection summarizes the June and July events.
Postfire debris-flow hazards
Wildfires can significantly alter the way water interacts with the landscape to the extent that even modest rainstorms can produce dangerous flash floods and debris flows. Recent fires in the western U.S. have impacted hundreds of thousands of acres of steep land, much of it public, making it susceptible to increased erosion and debris-flow activity. With the risk of severe wildfires continuing to...
Understanding large rock slides in deglaciated valleys in the Central and Patagonian Andes
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.
Controls on post-fire debris flows in Oregon
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.
Landslide risk evaluation: tools and tips for risky 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.
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.
One Way to Develop a Geologic Hazards Program: Lessons Learned and Anecdotes
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.
The spatial distribution of post-fire debris flows in relation to observed rainfall anomalies: Insights from the Dolan Fire, California
linkA 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.
The spatial distribution of post-fire debris flows in relation to observed rainfall anomalies: Insights from the Dolan Fire, California
linkA 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.
Liquefaction or liquefiction? Anthropogenic regulation and the influence of evaporite dissolution on ground failure in the 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake and beyond
linkOptical 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.
Liquefaction or liquefiction? Anthropogenic regulation and the influence of evaporite dissolution on ground failure in the 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake and beyond
linkOptical 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.
Blockslides, summit grabens, and collapsing highwalls of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge: Using lidar-derived imagery to reevaluate a thoroughly studied landscape
linkIn 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.
Blockslides, summit grabens, and collapsing highwalls of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge: Using lidar-derived imagery to reevaluate a thoroughly studied landscape
linkIn 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.
Landslides in Wyoming: Work, challenges, and case studies
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.
Landslide susceptibility in Minnesota: Insight from landslide inventory mapping and lidar change detection
linkThe 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.
Landslide susceptibility in Minnesota: Insight from landslide inventory mapping and lidar change detection
linkThe 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.
Temporal changes in rainfall intensity-duration thresholds for debris flows in a recovering burned area
linkPost-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.
Temporal changes in rainfall intensity-duration thresholds for debris flows in a recovering burned area
linkPost-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.
Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon debris flow
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
Utah’s ancient mega-landslides
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).
House destroyed by postfire debris flow in the Muckamuck Fire, Washington
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.
Shear surface undulations modulate gouge strength and contribute to divergent landslide acceleration
linkLandslides 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.
Shear surface undulations modulate gouge strength and contribute to divergent landslide acceleration
linkLandslides 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 triggered by Hurricane Maria: Assessment of an extreme event 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.
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.
The building and upkeep of a landslide hazards program: The confluence (collision?) of science, history, politics, and public opinion – A Blue Ridge perspective on a national challenge
linkBuilding and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
The building and upkeep of a landslide hazards program: The confluence (collision?) of science, history, politics, and public opinion – A Blue Ridge perspective on a national challenge
linkBuilding and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
Calwood Fire, Heil Ranch post-fire debris-flow monitoring station, July 31, 2021
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 Fire, Calwood post-fire debris-flow monitoring station, July 31, 2021
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.
Science and Products
Dixie Fire Post-Fire Debris Flows: A Tale of Two Storms
This new geonarrative (Esri story map) highlights two storm events and their postfire impacts in the Dixie burn area.
Columbia River Gorge Landslides
Extreme rainfall during two atmospheric river events in January 2021 and January 2022 triggered a series of debris flows in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. The flows had significant impacts, including multiple highway closures and one fatality. This story map highlights rainfall data and observations of debris flow deposits by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)...
Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, Flooding and Debris Flows: 2021
Summer storms on the Grizzly Creek burn area have resulted in repeated flooding and debris flows that are having enormous impacts in Glenwood Canyon. This Story Map collection summarizes the June and July events.
Postfire debris-flow hazards
Wildfires can significantly alter the way water interacts with the landscape to the extent that even modest rainstorms can produce dangerous flash floods and debris flows. Recent fires in the western U.S. have impacted hundreds of thousands of acres of steep land, much of it public, making it susceptible to increased erosion and debris-flow activity. With the risk of severe wildfires continuing to...
Understanding large rock slides in deglaciated valleys in the Central and Patagonian Andes
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.
Controls on post-fire debris flows in Oregon
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.
Landslide risk evaluation: tools and tips for risky 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.
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.
One Way to Develop a Geologic Hazards Program: Lessons Learned and Anecdotes
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.
The spatial distribution of post-fire debris flows in relation to observed rainfall anomalies: Insights from the Dolan Fire, California
linkA 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.
The spatial distribution of post-fire debris flows in relation to observed rainfall anomalies: Insights from the Dolan Fire, California
linkA 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.
Liquefaction or liquefiction? Anthropogenic regulation and the influence of evaporite dissolution on ground failure in the 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake and beyond
linkOptical 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.
Liquefaction or liquefiction? Anthropogenic regulation and the influence of evaporite dissolution on ground failure in the 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake and beyond
linkOptical 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.
Blockslides, summit grabens, and collapsing highwalls of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge: Using lidar-derived imagery to reevaluate a thoroughly studied landscape
linkIn 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.
Blockslides, summit grabens, and collapsing highwalls of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge: Using lidar-derived imagery to reevaluate a thoroughly studied landscape
linkIn 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.
Landslides in Wyoming: Work, challenges, and case studies
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.
Landslide susceptibility in Minnesota: Insight from landslide inventory mapping and lidar change detection
linkThe 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.
Landslide susceptibility in Minnesota: Insight from landslide inventory mapping and lidar change detection
linkThe 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.
Temporal changes in rainfall intensity-duration thresholds for debris flows in a recovering burned area
linkPost-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.
Temporal changes in rainfall intensity-duration thresholds for debris flows in a recovering burned area
linkPost-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.
Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon debris flow
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
Utah’s ancient mega-landslides
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).
House destroyed by postfire debris flow in the Muckamuck Fire, Washington
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.
Shear surface undulations modulate gouge strength and contribute to divergent landslide acceleration
linkLandslides 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.
Shear surface undulations modulate gouge strength and contribute to divergent landslide acceleration
linkLandslides 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 triggered by Hurricane Maria: Assessment of an extreme event 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.
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.
The building and upkeep of a landslide hazards program: The confluence (collision?) of science, history, politics, and public opinion – A Blue Ridge perspective on a national challenge
linkBuilding and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
The building and upkeep of a landslide hazards program: The confluence (collision?) of science, history, politics, and public opinion – A Blue Ridge perspective on a national challenge
linkBuilding and maintaining a landslide hazards program as a state agency presents many opportunities and challenges.
Calwood Fire, Heil Ranch post-fire debris-flow monitoring station, July 31, 2021
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 Fire, Calwood post-fire debris-flow monitoring station, July 31, 2021
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.