USGS studies deadly mudslides to help with next disaster

摘要

Destruction from the deadly mudslides in California last month was much worse than expected, and researchers want to change maps to better reflect where debris flow will travel before the next one hits. U.S. Geological Survey researchers will recreate the event through computer modeling to study debris flow. "It's tricky," said USGS research hydrologist Jason Kean. "It's computationally more demanding to model flows downstream. ... A small thing like topography can really change where the flow goes." Scientists surveyed Montecito after the Jan. 9 mudslides, which killed over 20 people (Greenwire, Jan. 11).