William H. Schulz, Jason Kean and Gonghui Wang, Landslide movement in southwest Colorado triggered by atmospheric tides, Nature Geoscience 2, 863-866

The ongoing Slumgullion landslide in southwestern Colorado advances at an annually averaged rate of about 1 cm (0.4 in) per day at its center. By monitoring conditions at two locations on the landslide, the authors show that periods of episodic movement correspond well with the low atmospheric tides produced by daytime heating. A simple model hints that the correlation is due to upward movement of fluids within the soil during low tide that decreases frictional stress along the base of the landslide.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY • KYOTO UNIVERSITY

See all News