On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico, causing more than 40,000 landslides in at least three-fourths of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities. The majority of landslides were shallow, but there were occasionally deeper ones as well. These occurred before, during, and following flooding, and many developed into extended runout debris flows. Due to the already wet soils, steep slopes in hilly and mountainous areas were severely affected by landslides.
The USGS Landslide Hazards Program seeks to lessen the effects of landslides on people and infrastructure by advancing people's knowledge of the causes of ground failure and by suggesting risk-reduction measures. USGS researchers have carefully examined rainfall-induced landslides in Puerto Rico to produce maps showing landslide susceptibility. Residents and emergency managers have access to educational resources that present scientific ideas in an understandable manner. The USGS has been closely collaborating with local partners to study landslides caused by significant rainfall events like Hurricane Maria in order to better understand rainfall-induced landslides in Puerto Rico. Scientists can depict landslide parameters like magnitude, failure mode and style, mobility of debris slides, flows of geologic material, location, and timing using remote sensing techniques and field observations. Local scientists and USGS scientists have collaborated to calculate landslide risk using this data as well as other crucial variables like proximity to roads and streams. The stream system experienced a high volume of eroded soil from the landslides. This sudden shift in chemical weathering measurements over a brief span of time does not suggest a significant alteration in climate. Instead, it is likely due to minor changes in the way landslides transport sediment to streams. When cations from silicate weathering combine with carbonate minerals downstream, even small landslides can have a significant impact on carbon sequestration, as seen in the post-hurricane changes in stream chemistry.
Hi kailani! Hurricane Maria sounded terrible and destructive. you know its bad when the freeways crack and slide down the mountain, it definitely makes you second guess the roads you drive on. When the storm come they trigger to landslides promoting more damage. Thanks for the great information. Nikki
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