Wildfires affect watersheds in myriad ways, from reducing evapotranspiration to changing soil repellencies, but new research suggests impacts on snowpack and runoff are the most significant.
landslides
Devastating Floods Hit India for the Second Year in a Row
The deadly floods raise questions of land use and extreme precipitation trends.
Rainfall Kick-Starts Slow-Moving Landslides
A census of hundreds of slow-moving landslides in Northern California reveals an uptick in the number and speed of landslides in 2017, the second-wettest year on record.
Landslide Activity Ramps Up With Extreme Rainfall
An increase in activity of hundreds of slow-moving landslides during extreme wet conditions in California provides insights into the landscape response to ongoing climate change.
Cascading Down the Mountain
Earthquakes in mountain ranges produce a cascade of geological disturbances and hazards, from enormous landslides to climate change.
Study of Alaskan Landslide Could Improve Tsunami Modeling
A rare submarine landslide provides researchers with a reference point for modeling the biggest tsunamis.
Varying Impact of Earthquake- and Monsoon-Induced Landslides
Using nearly 50 years of satellite data and records stretching back millennia, scientists determine the relative frequency—and the erosional power—of monsoon- and earthquake-induced landslides in Nepal.
Downhill All The Way: Monitoring Landslides Using Geophysics
Developments in geophysical methods used to monitor surface and subsurface changes prior to landslides can lead to improved prediction and early warning.
Waves of Deadly Brine Can Slosh After Submarine Landslides
Brine pools—hypersaline, low-oxygen waters deadly to many forms of ocean life—can experience waves hundreds of meters high when hit by a landslide, potentially overspilling their deep-sea basins.
How Do Turbidity Currents Accelerate?
Flume experiments show that a self-reinforcing cycle can strengthen the currents responsible for transporting large amounts of sediment to the deep oceans.