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Displaying 11 - 20 of a total of 26 items
February 26, 2018
Earthquakes in the New Madrid Fault Zone
The New Madrid fault zone (NMFZ) is a long-established weakness in the Earth’s crust in the central and eastern US where earthquakes have occurred for hundreds of millions of years. In 1811-1812, three large earthquakes (up to magnitude 7.5) caused severe...
December 07, 2017
What grows in arid, sandy soils? How do these soils become dust?
Many small organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, grow among the sand and silt particles in dry valley and desert soils. At the soil’s surface, these organisms often form biological webs (“microbiotic crusts”) that keep small sand...
September 07, 2017
What is a Dry Well?
A dry well is a well that is used to transmit surface water underground and is deeper than its width at the surface (see image, below). Most dry wells are 30 to 70 feet deep and 3 feet wide at the surface. They are lined with perforated casings and can be filled with gravel or...
September 07, 2017
Introduction
Dry wells improve stormwater drainage and aquifer recharge by providing a fast, direct route for rainwater to drain deep into underlying sediment and rock. Dry wells are most common in the western U.S. where clay or caliche layers slow down the natural drainage of water into...
May 19, 2017
Remote sensing imagery is used by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to support recovery efforts after a tornado.
Defining the Problem
Following a tornado, first responders need maps of the width and location (swath) of the damage area. The biggest challenge when integrating...
May 19, 2017
Surface and subsurface mapping of lahar and lahar runout deposits from Glacier Peak volcano has contributed important geologic information for land-management planning and emergency preparedness in the lower Skagit Valley.
Defining the Problem
Active volcanoes, such as Glacier Peak (Fig. 1), pose...
May 19, 2017
Landslide hazard maps based on geologic maps are a tool for local government officials, planners, developers, engineers, insurance companies, lending institutions, and landowners to assess the risk and take appropriate actions.
Defining the Problem
Damaging landslides occur even in vertically...
May 19, 2017
Geologic maps can help to show which areas may be more prone to landslides and therefore directly assist in making optimum engineering design choices.
Defining the Problem
U.S Highway 85 and ND Highway 22, along with numerous county roads, buildings, pipelines, and power lines, have been...
May 19, 2017
In California, detailed modern geologic maps are fundamental for evaluating how susceptible an area is to earthquake-induced landslides.
Defining the Problem
The geologic history of the Oakland, California, area has produced steep hillsides and unstable rock and soil that generate damaging...
May 19, 2017
Geologic maps are useful in identifying areas that may be affected by post-wildfire debris flows. Land-use planners use these maps to identify potential hazards in areas that are proposed for development and to develop mitigation strategies. The maps can also focus post-wildfire emergency planning...
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