Study Looks at Landslides Created by Hurricane Maria

news image
Special Stories
18 Mar 2019 9:01 AM
[The Geological Society of America]  Hurricane Maria hit the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 and triggered more than 40,000 landslides in at least three-fourths of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities. In an article from GSA Today, authors Erin Bessette-Kirton and colleagues write that "the number of landslides that occurred during this event was two orders of magnitude greater than those reported from previous hurricanes." The authors, from the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Puerto Rico, evaluate the extent and characteristics of Maria-induced landslides throughout Puerto Rico. They present an assessment of island-wide landslide density, which they compare, in conjunction with rainfall data, to tropical cyclone systems that have affected Puerto Rico since 1960. Additionally, they discuss the conditions specific to landsliding in Puerto Rico and examine the impact of environmental variables (e.g., rainfall, soil moisture, and geology) on observed variations in island-wide landsliding. [Damage in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Image from U.S. Customs and Border Protection] In their analysis, they show that the average rainfall from Hurricane Maria in mountainous areas was greater than that of any other hurricane or tropical storm in Puerto Rico since 1960. An important aim of the study, the authors write, is to achieve a better understanding of the factors that cause landslides in Puerto Rico in order to enhance susceptibility analyses and risk management efforts. [(Top)Topographic map of Puerto Rico showing the storm track of Hurricane Maria. (Bottom) Relative density of landslides mapped from the rapid classification of satellite and aerial imagery and site visits following Hurricane Maria] Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels
All Weather News
More
Tornado Touches Down in Nebraska and Iowa on Friday

Tornado Touches Down in Nebraska and Iowa on Friday

A tornado touched down in Lincoln, NE, just b

27 Apr 2024 2:00 AM
Spring Snow on the Horizon in Colorado

Spring Snow on the Horizon in Colorado

Snow is on the way for the Intermountain West

27 Apr 2024 1:50 AM
Weekend Forecast: More Severe Weather, Flash Flooding

Weekend Forecast: More Severe Weather, Flash Flooding

If it seems like April has been particularly

27 Apr 2024 1:45 AM
From frosty temps to Record Warmth in the Northeast

From frosty temps to Record Warmth in the Northeast

Temps are climbing in the Northeast, and by e

27 Apr 2024 1:40 AM
NOAA Debuts "HeatRisk" Tool Nationwide

NOAA Debuts "HeatRisk" Tool Nationwide

More people die from heat every year than ALL

27 Apr 2024 1:15 AM
Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

It’s the soundtrack to the summer. Nature’s n

27 Apr 2024 1:05 AM
Critical Fire Risk in West Texas, New Mexico

Critical Fire Risk in West Texas, New Mexico

A critical fire risk is in place for west Tex

26 Apr 2024 2:15 PM