The Threat of Landslides

To many of us, Landslides are foreign concepts which we see on television as a result of a natural event or disaster. But researchers with the United States Geological Survey have begun attempts to understand the threat and cause of landslides which they feel is often overlooked. Dennis Staley, a USGS researcher has begun a program in Santa Barbara, California to evaluate the causes and effects of landslides, also known as mudslides or debris flows. What many people do not know, including me until now, is that landslides do not necessary have any correlation with major natural events like storms or earthquakes. Rather, they are their own individual natural disturbance with their own set of causes. Like USGS researchers, I believe that it is crucial to various areas of our nation that we understand what environments may be affected by the occurrence of these landslides which have killed many and wiped out home, and even entire towns. The phenomenon of landslides it not their power, but rather the fact that they occur due to unrecognized conditions of soil composition and precipitation, and that they occur rather unexpectedly. When soil becomes saturated, the water can only runoff the land. The pressure and weight of this water causes a mudslide. This issue has been especially important in California during the recent months because of the extensive wildfires that have occurred. Most people do not consider the effects of wildfires on the cause of something like a landslide but the effect is in fact very great. The accumulation of ash in and on top of the soil make the soil something like a blacktop parking lot, preventing absorption of water. This lack of absorption causes the mudslide unexpectedly. After a period of wildfires, the area is usually desperate for rain, but this can actually be detrimental because of the overlooked risk of landslide. The research that has been done by Dennis Staley and his colleagues has provided a great deal of unknown information and understanding to geologists. It is important for all people to understand that it is very difficult for these landslides to be prevented, even with this research and information. However, the information is very beneficial because geologists believe that they will be better able to predict when an area may be at high risk for a landslide based on the condition of the soil and the land, and therefore take preventative measures against extreme destruction. I think that this is a tremendous advancement. Many people will benefit from this information, especially when you consider that last year, there were 540 landslides world wide which occurred solely due to rain, and these landslides were responsible for 2100 deaths. Just imagine the lives and homes that might be saved as a result of this extensive research. Like always with science, the possibilities are endless.