Jeffrey Coe
During a long career with the USGS, I’ve studied a wide variety of landslide types in the western United States and abroad. My general research focus is on understanding landslide processes and quantifying landslide hazards.
Education and Certifications
Kent State University, B.S., 1984, Geology
Colorado School of Mines, M.S., 1995, Geology
Affiliations and Memberships*
Geological Society of America
American Geophysical Union
Honors and Awards
Meritorious Service Award, U.S. Department of Interior, 2022
Fellow, Geological Society of America, 2021
Superior Service Award, U.S. Department of Interior, 2017, for emergency response and research at the West Salt Creek landslide
Superior Service Award, U.S. Department of Interior, 2017, for research on debris flows in Oregon
Distinguished Practice Award, Geological Society of America, Environmental & Engineering Geology Division, 2017
Directors Award, U.S. Geological Survey, 2014, for emergency response at the Oso landslide
Past-Presidents’ Award, Colorado Scientific Society, 2010
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 32
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 74
Runoff-generated debris flows: observations and modeling of surge initiation, magnitude, and frequency
Runoff during intense rainstorms plays a major role in generating debris flows in many alpine areas and burned steeplands. Yet compared to debris flow initiation from shallow landslides, the mechanics by which runoff generates a debris flow are less understood. To better understand debris flow initiation by surface water runoff, we monitored flow stage and rainfall associated with debris flows in
Authors
Jason W. Kean, Scott W. McCoy, Gregory E. Tucker, Dennis M. Staley, Jeffrey A. Coe
Assessment of shallow landslide potential using 1-D and 3-D slope stability analysis
No abstract available.
Authors
Rex L. Baum, Jonathan W. Godt, Jeffrey A. Coe, Mark E. Reid
Review of approaches for assessing the impact of climate change on landslide hazards
No abstract available.
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe, J. W. Godt
Sediment entrainment by debris flows: In situ measurements from the headwaters of a steep catchment
Debris flows can dramatically increase their volume, and hence their destructive potential, by entraining sediment. Yet quantitative constraints on rates and mechanics of sediment entrainment by debris flows are limited. Using an in situ sensor network in the headwaters of a natural catchment we measured flow and bed properties during six erosive debris-flow events. Despite similar flow properties
Authors
S.W. McCoy, Jason W. Kean, Jeffrey A. Coe, G.E. Tucker, Dennis M. Staley, T.A. Wasklewicz
Erratum: regional moisture balance control of landslide motion: implications for landslide forecasting in a changing climate
No abstract available.
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe
Regional moisture balance control of landslide motion: implications for landslide forecasting in a changing climate
I correlated 12 years of annual movement of 18 points on a large, continuously moving, deep-seated landslide with a regional moisture balance index (moisture balance drought index, MBDI). I used MBDI values calculated from a combination of historical precipitation and air temperature data from A.D. 1895 to 2010, and downscaled climate projections using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe
Comparison of soil thickness in a zero-order basin in the Oregon Coast Range using a soil probe and electrical resistivity tomography
Accurate estimation of the soil thickness distribution in steepland drainage basins is essential for understanding ecosystem and subsurface response to infiltration. One important aspect of this characterization is assessing the heavy and antecedent rainfall conditions that lead to shallow landsliding. In this paper, we investigate the direct current (DC) resistivity method as a tool for quickly e
Authors
Michael S. Morse, Ning Lu, Jonathan W. Godt, André Revil, Jeffrey A. Coe
Observations of debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Part 1, in-situ measurements of flow dynamics, tracer particle movement and video imagery from the summer of 2009
Debris flows initiated by surface-water runoff during short duration, moderate- to high-intensity rainfall are common in steep, rocky, and sparsely vegetated terrain. Yet large uncertainties remain about the potential for a flow to grow through entrainment of loose debris, which make formulation of accurate mechanical models of debris-flow routing difficult. Using a combination of in situ measurem
Authors
Scott W. McCoy, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Greg E. Tucker, Dennis M. Staley, Thad A. Wasklewicz
Map of debris flows caused by rainfall during 1996 in parts of the Reedsport and Deer Head Point quadrangles, Douglas County, southern Coast Range, Oregon
This 1:12,000-scale map shows an inventory of debris flows caused by rainfall during 1996 in a 94.4 km2 area in the southern Coast Range of Oregon. This map and associated digital data are part of a larger U.S. Geological Survey study of debris flows in the southern Coast Range. Available evidence indicates that the flows were triggered by a rain storm that occurred between November 17 and 19. The
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe, John A. Michael, Marianela Mercado Burgos
Observations of debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Part 2, changes in surface morphometry from terrestrial laser scanning in the summer of 2009
High resolution topographic data that quantify changes in channel form caused by sequential debris flows in natural channels are rare at the reach scale. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques are utilized to capture morphological changes brought about by a high-frequency of debris-flow events at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the topographic resp
Authors
Dennis M. Staley, Thad A. Wasklewicz, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Scott W. McCoy, Greg E. Tucker
Assessment of topographic and drainage network controls on debris-flow travel distance along the west coast of the United States
To better understand controls on debris-flow entrainment and travel distance, we examined topographic and drainage network characteristics of initiation locations in two separate debris-flow prone areas located 700 km apart along the west coast of the U.S. One area was located in northern California, the other in southern Oregon. In both areas, debris flows mobilized from slides during large storm
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe, Mark E. Reid, Dainne L. Brien, John A. Michael
Landslides Mapped from LIDAR Imagery, Kitsap County, Washington
Landslides are a recurring problem on hillslopes throughout the Puget Lowland, Washington, but can be difficult to identify in the densely forested terrain. However, digital terrain models of the bare-earth surface derived from LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) data express topographic details sufficiently well to identify landslides. Landslides and escarpments were mapped using LIDAR imagery an
Authors
Jonathan P. McKenna, David J. Lidke, Jeffrey A. Coe
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 32
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 74
Runoff-generated debris flows: observations and modeling of surge initiation, magnitude, and frequency
Runoff during intense rainstorms plays a major role in generating debris flows in many alpine areas and burned steeplands. Yet compared to debris flow initiation from shallow landslides, the mechanics by which runoff generates a debris flow are less understood. To better understand debris flow initiation by surface water runoff, we monitored flow stage and rainfall associated with debris flows in
Authors
Jason W. Kean, Scott W. McCoy, Gregory E. Tucker, Dennis M. Staley, Jeffrey A. Coe
Assessment of shallow landslide potential using 1-D and 3-D slope stability analysis
No abstract available.
Authors
Rex L. Baum, Jonathan W. Godt, Jeffrey A. Coe, Mark E. Reid
Review of approaches for assessing the impact of climate change on landslide hazards
No abstract available.
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe, J. W. Godt
Sediment entrainment by debris flows: In situ measurements from the headwaters of a steep catchment
Debris flows can dramatically increase their volume, and hence their destructive potential, by entraining sediment. Yet quantitative constraints on rates and mechanics of sediment entrainment by debris flows are limited. Using an in situ sensor network in the headwaters of a natural catchment we measured flow and bed properties during six erosive debris-flow events. Despite similar flow properties
Authors
S.W. McCoy, Jason W. Kean, Jeffrey A. Coe, G.E. Tucker, Dennis M. Staley, T.A. Wasklewicz
Erratum: regional moisture balance control of landslide motion: implications for landslide forecasting in a changing climate
No abstract available.
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe
Regional moisture balance control of landslide motion: implications for landslide forecasting in a changing climate
I correlated 12 years of annual movement of 18 points on a large, continuously moving, deep-seated landslide with a regional moisture balance index (moisture balance drought index, MBDI). I used MBDI values calculated from a combination of historical precipitation and air temperature data from A.D. 1895 to 2010, and downscaled climate projections using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe
Comparison of soil thickness in a zero-order basin in the Oregon Coast Range using a soil probe and electrical resistivity tomography
Accurate estimation of the soil thickness distribution in steepland drainage basins is essential for understanding ecosystem and subsurface response to infiltration. One important aspect of this characterization is assessing the heavy and antecedent rainfall conditions that lead to shallow landsliding. In this paper, we investigate the direct current (DC) resistivity method as a tool for quickly e
Authors
Michael S. Morse, Ning Lu, Jonathan W. Godt, André Revil, Jeffrey A. Coe
Observations of debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Part 1, in-situ measurements of flow dynamics, tracer particle movement and video imagery from the summer of 2009
Debris flows initiated by surface-water runoff during short duration, moderate- to high-intensity rainfall are common in steep, rocky, and sparsely vegetated terrain. Yet large uncertainties remain about the potential for a flow to grow through entrainment of loose debris, which make formulation of accurate mechanical models of debris-flow routing difficult. Using a combination of in situ measurem
Authors
Scott W. McCoy, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Greg E. Tucker, Dennis M. Staley, Thad A. Wasklewicz
Map of debris flows caused by rainfall during 1996 in parts of the Reedsport and Deer Head Point quadrangles, Douglas County, southern Coast Range, Oregon
This 1:12,000-scale map shows an inventory of debris flows caused by rainfall during 1996 in a 94.4 km2 area in the southern Coast Range of Oregon. This map and associated digital data are part of a larger U.S. Geological Survey study of debris flows in the southern Coast Range. Available evidence indicates that the flows were triggered by a rain storm that occurred between November 17 and 19. The
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe, John A. Michael, Marianela Mercado Burgos
Observations of debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Part 2, changes in surface morphometry from terrestrial laser scanning in the summer of 2009
High resolution topographic data that quantify changes in channel form caused by sequential debris flows in natural channels are rare at the reach scale. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques are utilized to capture morphological changes brought about by a high-frequency of debris-flow events at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the topographic resp
Authors
Dennis M. Staley, Thad A. Wasklewicz, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Scott W. McCoy, Greg E. Tucker
Assessment of topographic and drainage network controls on debris-flow travel distance along the west coast of the United States
To better understand controls on debris-flow entrainment and travel distance, we examined topographic and drainage network characteristics of initiation locations in two separate debris-flow prone areas located 700 km apart along the west coast of the U.S. One area was located in northern California, the other in southern Oregon. In both areas, debris flows mobilized from slides during large storm
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe, Mark E. Reid, Dainne L. Brien, John A. Michael
Landslides Mapped from LIDAR Imagery, Kitsap County, Washington
Landslides are a recurring problem on hillslopes throughout the Puget Lowland, Washington, but can be difficult to identify in the densely forested terrain. However, digital terrain models of the bare-earth surface derived from LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) data express topographic details sufficiently well to identify landslides. Landslides and escarpments were mapped using LIDAR imagery an
Authors
Jonathan P. McKenna, David J. Lidke, Jeffrey A. Coe
*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