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| Home > Hazard-Specific > Landslides
and Debris Flow |
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Photo
Credit: USGS -Geologic Hazards
Team is located in Golden,
Colorado |
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Landslides
and Debris Flow
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| Landslides occur
in all U.S. states and territories.
In a landslide, masses of rock,
earth, or debris move down a slope.
They may be small or large, slow
or rapid. Landslides are caused
by disturbances in the natural
stability of a slope and can be
activated by storms, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, fires, and
human modification of land. |
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| Debris
flows,
also known as mudslides, develop
when water rapidly accumulates
in the ground and results in
a surge of water-saturated rock,
earth, and debris. Mudslides
usually start on steep slopes
and can be activated by natural
disasters. Areas where wildfires
or human modification of the
land have destroyed vegetation
on slopes are particularly vulnerable
to landslides during and after
heavy rains. They can flow rapidly,
striking with little or no warning
at avalanche speeds. They can
also travel several miles from
their source, growing in size
as they pick up trees, boulders,
cars, and other materials. |
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