The journal Science has published a paper by Jen Pierce, a professor in the Department of Geosciences, and 19 co-authors from premier research universities across the nation and the United States Geological Survey.
The paper, “Cascading land surface hazards as a nexus in the Earth system,” led by first author Brian Yanites of the University of Indiana, addresses the danger presented by cascading hazards related to sediment on the Earth’s surface. The authors share a vast range of expertise in the ways certain natural disasters — like volcanic eruptions, wildfires, earthquakes and large storms — can cascade, leading to further disruptions on the Earth’s surface that endanger life and property. Pierce brings her expertise in the ways wildfires, like 2024’s Wapiti Fire, can damage soil surfaces and reduce water infiltration, creating post-fire debris flows.
With their varied expertise, Pierce and her co-authors explored new models to help forecast land surface hazards following natural disasters. This paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of the interrelationship of processes and hazards that affect the surface of the Earth. The work will improve risk assessment and management related to land surface hazards.