{"id":42612,"date":"2023-01-16T07:36:31","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T07:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/?p=42612"},"modified":"2023-01-16T07:40:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T07:40:50","slug":"california-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/2023\/01\/16\/california-1\/","title":{"rendered":"A remarkable number of landslides in California"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><strong>A remarkable number of landslides in California<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>California has suffered a succession of &#8220;atmospheric river&#8221; rainfall events in recent weeks, bringing flooding and landslides across a wide area.\u00a0 The level of disruption to some parts of the state has been high.<\/p>\n<p>Others are providing far better insight into these events than can I, so I shall point to some useful resources.\u00a0 First, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservation.ca.gov\/cgs\">California Geological Survey<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/programs\/landslide-hazards\">USGS<\/a> have been mapping the landslides as they occur, and yesterday <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CAGeoSurvey\/status\/1614744834350395392\">tweeted a map of the distribution of reported events<\/a>:-<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">1\/15 UPDATE: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CAGeoSurvey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CAGeoSurvey<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USGS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@USGS<\/a>, in support of the Governor\u2019s Office of Emergency Services (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cal_OES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Cal_OES<\/a>), continue mapping reported landslides every day. We are now at 402 slides statewide (&amp; counting) since 12\/30\/22!<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/landslide?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#landslide<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AtmosphericRiver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AtmosphericRiver<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/emergencyresponse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#emergencyresponse<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qZR3WwRl5p\">pic.twitter.com\/qZR3WwRl5p<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; California Geological Survey (@CAGeoSurvey) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CAGeoSurvey\/status\/1614744834350395392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cadoc.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/webappviewer\/index.html?id=bc48ad40e3504134a1fc8f3909659041\">This data is available in an online GIS tool<\/a>, with information about each event and its impact.\u00a0 In many cases there is photograph available.\u00a0 Some of the events are spectacular:-<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_42617\" style=\"width: 490px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-42617\" class=\"size-full wp-image-42617\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2023\/01\/23_01-Napa-1.jpg\" alt=\"A landslide at Redwood Road, Napa County, California.\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2023\/01\/23_01-Napa-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2023\/01\/23_01-Napa-1-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-42617\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>A landslide at Redwood Road, Napa County, California. Image by the County of Napa.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>The distribution appears to be related to upland areas with active deformation from faulting.\u00a0 Interestingly, <a href=\"https:\/\/lamont.columbia.edu\/news\/flooding-california-what-went-wrong-and-what-comes-next\">The Colombia Climate School has an excellent article about this rainfall event,<\/a> which includes this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/\">NOAA<\/a> map of the rainfall distribution up to 11 January 2023.\u00a0 It is instructive to compare the two maps:-<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_42615\" style=\"width: 647px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-42615\" class=\"size-full wp-image-42615\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2023\/01\/23_01-NOAA-1.jpg\" alt=\"NOAA map of the distribution of precipitation in California from 26 December 2022 to 11 January 2023.\" width=\"637\" height=\"358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2023\/01\/23_01-NOAA-1.jpg 637w, https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2023\/01\/23_01-NOAA-1-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-42615\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/\">NOAA<\/a> map of the distribution of precipitation in California from 26 December 2022 to 11 January 2023.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opb.org\/article\/2023\/01\/15\/california-mudslides-defense-wet-weather-storms-damage\/\">AP has a really good article about the landslides being triggered by this seemingly unrelenting series of storms<\/a>. It highlights the complex nature of landslide hazard in California, including the young geology, the impacts of prolonged drought and of course these remarkable rainfall events.\u00a0 As always we should remember that hazards can be natural, but disasters are human.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/01\/10\/us\/california-mudslides-storms.html\">The New York Times has a good article about the role of the long term drought in raising the risk of these landslides.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Inevitably, some good videos have emerged.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/accuweather\/status\/1612841742096637953\">This one occurred last week in Fresno County<\/a>:-<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A California Highway Patrol officer captured incredible footage of a huge landslide in Fresno County Monday afternoon. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CAwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CAwx<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AtmosphericRiver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AtmosphericRiver<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Wqcngxk5Ea\">https:\/\/t.co\/Wqcngxk5Ea<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/h0bNiB8Qo3\">pic.twitter.com\/h0bNiB8Qo3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; AccuWeather (@accuweather) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/accuweather\/status\/1612841742096637953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCian\/status\/1614378878319095809\">Whilst this one occurred near Pescadero<\/a>:-<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wild video of a slide continuing at partial road collapse near Pescadero.<br \/>This is at 4100 block of Stage Road. <br \/>(Vid from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CALFIRECZU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CALFIRECZU<\/a>)<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pi7HgbZNXp\">pic.twitter.com\/pi7HgbZNXp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ian Cull (@NBCian) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCian\/status\/1614378878319095809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 14, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>Particularly interesting landslides <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaltransD5\/status\/1614768497204297729\">include this one, on the Big Sur Coast<\/a>:-<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Big Sur Coast: Crews continue to respond at numerous locations on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Hwy1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Hwy1<\/a> which are showing significant instability as a result of ongoing rain event. New slide covering roadway appeared last night just south of Mill Creek. Crews are being mobilized in advance of clearing weather. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5UeuFDchov\">pic.twitter.com\/5UeuFDchov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaltransD5\/status\/1614768497204297729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<p>And, saving the best to last, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaltransDist7\/status\/1614297214200995842\">this landslide occurred to the northwest of Santa Clarita<\/a>:-<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Castaic: on northbound I-5 the two right lanes are closed from 3 miles south of Templin Highway to Templin Highway due to a large slope slide. Unknown duration. Contractor is on scene maintaining closure. Updates at <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/O37QesJHpw\">https:\/\/t.co\/O37QesJHpw<\/a>. Please <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BeWorkZoneAlert?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BeWorkZoneAlert<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HJT7U8qFSF\">pic.twitter.com\/HJT7U8qFSF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaltransDist7\/status\/1614297214200995842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 14, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since the start of 2023, California has been hit by a succession of major rainstorms. To date at least 402 landslides have been triggered. <!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":42617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[137,469,959,725,48],"class_list":["post-42612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-landslide-report","tag-california","tag-featured","tag-landslide-report","tag-north-america","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42612\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}