Research

Debris flows are highly mobile landslides comprised of coarse sediment, mud, and water. The composition of debris flows enable them to behave like a fluid and travel at speeds in excess of 10 m/s. Heavy precipitation, like that associated with atmospheric rivers, is often responsible for the initiation of debris flows. Rockfalls supply sediment to channels which then gets mobilized by and combined with water to form debris flows. Landslide hazards, such as debris flows, are becoming more common, threatening an increasing number of lives.

Our lab is hoping to use seismometers and infrasound sensors to detect and characterize rockfalls and debris flows in two mountainous river catchments. The catchments we are studying are located near Haines in Southeast Alaska. The steep mountainous environment, precipitation heavy weather, and freeze-thaw cycles in the area make it prone to rockfalls and debris flows. Detecting rockfalls will teach us where, when, and how often sediment is filling the channel, increasing our understanding of debris flow conditions. Characterizing the signature of debris flows in infrasound will allow us to warn of incoming debris flows in real-time.