Kate E Allstadt, Ph.D.
Kate Allstadt joined the team at the USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center in Golden, CO in June 2015.
Kate uses multidisciplinary applications of seismic and geophysical techniques to study landslide, earthquake, and volcano hazards. She currently focuses on earthquake-triggered ground failure, near-real-time earthquake impacts, seismic monitoring of debris flows and lahars, and studies of massive rapid landslides using seismic methods and numerical modeling.
Kate cofounded the ongoing GeoGirls at Mount St. Helens field camp designed to keep middle school girls interested in science through hands-on field experiences and interactions with strong science role models.
Research Interests
Multidisciplinary Applications of Seismology, Hazard and Disaster mitigation, Seismically Induced Landslides, Landslide Seismology, Earthquake and Volcano monitoring, Real-time products, Engineering seismology and Site Effects
Professional Experience
2015 – present: Research Geophysicist, USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center, Golden CO
2014 – 2015: National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory: Toward early detection and tracking of mass movements at volcanoes using seismic methods.
2013 – 2014: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Washington: M9 Cascadia megaquakes: reducing risk through science, engineering, and planning.
2009 – 2013: Duty Seismologist for Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant, University of Washington
Education and Certifications
2009 – 2013: University of Washington, PhD, Seismology/Geophysics
2008 – 2009: Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France and ROSE School, Pavia, Italy, M.S., Engineering Seismology
2003 - 2008: Northeastern University, B.S., Environmental Geology
Science and Products
Near Realtime Maps of Possible Earthquake-Triggered Landslides
An Interactive Web-based Application for Earthquake-triggered Ground Failure Inventories
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
Preliminary Landslide Inventory for Landslides Triggered by Hurricane Helene (September 2024) Preliminary Landslide Inventory for Landslides Triggered by Hurricane Helene (September 2024)
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.
Comprehensive Global Database of Earthquake-Induced Landslide Events and Their Impacts (ver. 2.0, February 2022) Comprehensive Global Database of Earthquake-Induced Landslide Events and Their Impacts (ver. 2.0, February 2022)
Earthquake triggered ground failure associated with the M7.1 2018 southcentral Alaska Earthquake (ver. 2.0, December 2023) Earthquake triggered ground failure associated with the M7.1 2018 southcentral Alaska Earthquake (ver. 2.0, December 2023)
Seismogenic Landslides and other Mass Movements (ver. 3.0, May 2025) Seismogenic Landslides and other Mass Movements (ver. 3.0, May 2025)
Rapid Response Landslide Inventory for the 14 August 2021 M7.2 Nippes, Haiti, Earthquake Rapid Response Landslide Inventory for the 14 August 2021 M7.2 Nippes, Haiti, Earthquake
The influence of anthropogenic regulation and evaporite dissolution on earthquake-triggered ground failure The influence of anthropogenic regulation and evaporite dissolution on earthquake-triggered ground failure
Slope Unit Maker (SUMak): An efficient and parameter-free algorithm for delineating slope units to improve landslide modeling Slope Unit Maker (SUMak): An efficient and parameter-free algorithm for delineating slope units to improve landslide modeling
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
Preliminary documentation of coseismic ground failure triggered by the February 6, 2023 Türkiye earthquake sequence Preliminary documentation of coseismic ground failure triggered by the February 6, 2023 Türkiye earthquake sequence
Mapping landslide susceptibility over large regions with limited data Mapping landslide susceptibility over large regions with limited data
Insights on multistage rock avalanche behavior from runout modeling constrained by seismic inversions Insights on multistage rock avalanche behavior from runout modeling constrained by seismic inversions
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
Near Realtime Maps of Possible Earthquake-Triggered Landslides
An Interactive Web-based Application for Earthquake-triggered Ground Failure Inventories
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
Preliminary Landslide Inventory for Landslides Triggered by Hurricane Helene (September 2024) Preliminary Landslide Inventory for Landslides Triggered by Hurricane Helene (September 2024)
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.
Comprehensive Global Database of Earthquake-Induced Landslide Events and Their Impacts (ver. 2.0, February 2022) Comprehensive Global Database of Earthquake-Induced Landslide Events and Their Impacts (ver. 2.0, February 2022)
Earthquake triggered ground failure associated with the M7.1 2018 southcentral Alaska Earthquake (ver. 2.0, December 2023) Earthquake triggered ground failure associated with the M7.1 2018 southcentral Alaska Earthquake (ver. 2.0, December 2023)
Seismogenic Landslides and other Mass Movements (ver. 3.0, May 2025) Seismogenic Landslides and other Mass Movements (ver. 3.0, May 2025)
Rapid Response Landslide Inventory for the 14 August 2021 M7.2 Nippes, Haiti, Earthquake Rapid Response Landslide Inventory for the 14 August 2021 M7.2 Nippes, Haiti, Earthquake
The influence of anthropogenic regulation and evaporite dissolution on earthquake-triggered ground failure The influence of anthropogenic regulation and evaporite dissolution on earthquake-triggered ground failure
Slope Unit Maker (SUMak): An efficient and parameter-free algorithm for delineating slope units to improve landslide modeling Slope Unit Maker (SUMak): An efficient and parameter-free algorithm for delineating slope units to improve landslide modeling
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
Preliminary documentation of coseismic ground failure triggered by the February 6, 2023 Türkiye earthquake sequence Preliminary documentation of coseismic ground failure triggered by the February 6, 2023 Türkiye earthquake sequence
Mapping landslide susceptibility over large regions with limited data Mapping landslide susceptibility over large regions with limited data
Insights on multistage rock avalanche behavior from runout modeling constrained by seismic inversions Insights on multistage rock avalanche behavior from runout modeling constrained by seismic inversions
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.