1. Erosion and Landslides Lesson Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Developed by Kristen Weaver GPM Master Teacher NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2. Guiding Questions Erosion: How can soil and other materials be moved from one place to another? Landslides: What are landslides and how do they occur? Landslides Inquiry Lab: How will different types of soil affect how much precipitation it takes to cause a landslide? Predicting landslides: What do we need to know to predict when and where a landslide may occur? How can we get that data? Using Satellites: How can we measure precipitation from space, and why do we want to? Risk and Preparation: What areas are currently at risk for landslides? What can people do to prepare? 2

3. Engage Look at the different types of soil in the tray in front of you. How many ways can you think of to move the material from one side of the tray to the other? Image Source: Microsoft Office Clip Art

4. Landslides

5. Landslides What is a landslide and what causes one? A landslide is defined as "the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope" (Cruden, 1991). Landslides are a type of "mass wasting," which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity. Source: USGS Landslide FAQ What variables might affect whether a landslide occurs at a particular time and place?

6. What causes a landslides? – Landslide: a rapidly moving mass of debris, rock, earth, and/or mud triggered by intense and/or prolonged rainfall, earthquakes, freezing, coastal/river weathering, and human influence

7. Landslides Lab 7 Ingredients for a landslide Steep Slopes Weak soil Rain Earthquakes Human activity La Conchita landslide, California in 2005 Destroyed 13 houses, severely damaged 23 others, and caused 10 fatalities.

8. Landslides Lab Today, you will investigate one of those variables – type of soil – and how much precipitation it takes to start a landslide. Make sure you follow the lab directions and make careful observations as you proceed.

9. Lab Results # of Sprays to Landslide Volume of Water Used Sand Group 1 Sand Group 2 Sand Group 3 Sand Group 4 Average Was your hypothesis supported by the data? Explain. # of Sprays to Landslide Volume of Water Used Soil Group 1 Soil Group 2 Soil Group 3 Soil Group 4 Average

10. Landslides: Why study them? They happen all over the world They kill thousands of people each year and cause extensive property damage Landslide observed from EO-1 Satellite ALI instrument in August, 2010 in China

11. Vargas State, Venezuela, December 1999 Fatalities: 30,000 Gansu Province, China August 2010, Fatalities: 1,765 La Jolla, CA October, 2007 Laguna Beach, CA June, 2005

12. Predicting Landslides What do we need to know to be able to predict landslides? How can we get that data?

13. Landslide Risk in the U.S. Landslide risk levels in the continental United States Risk potentials: red = very high, yellow= high, green = moderate (Note: landslides can still happen in the black areas, but the potential is low)

14. Tracking Precipitation from Space As you saw in the experiment, knowing how much rain is falling in an area is very important to predicting when and where a landslide may occur. Scientists are using satellites, such as the Tropical Rainfall Measure Mission (TRMM) to track that data. Soon, the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite will launch, improving the data and extending its range.

15. Landslide modeling with satellite data MODIS Land Cover, 500mSRTM Topography Data, 30m

16. Landslide Risk Hotspots These maps show areas currently at high risk for landslides, based on precipitation data from TRMM. Click on the image for a website with the most recent data.

17. How can we make better predictions? 17 Satellites can provide a more complete picture of rain from space, allowing scientists to look at storms, rainfall totals, and changes throughout days to years The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) has been providing rainfall data since 1998 in the tropics and mid latitudes The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission will extend observations of rain and snow up to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles

18. Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) GPM is an international mission which will use inputs from an international constellation of satellites to provide improved space and time coverage of precipitation (rain, snow) over the globe The GPM Core Observatory will provide improved measurements of precipitation from the tropics to higher latitudes

19. GPM: Too Much, Too Little Why do we need to measure precipitation using satellites?

20. Landslide Research You will now research landslide risks, and use that information, plus data from your own experiment, to create a public service announcement for one of the areas currently in danger of a landslide, you may create a poster, script or any other form of presentation approved by your teacher. Be sure that your announcement includes: – A description of what a landslide is – A description of and data from your own experiment – Data from TRMM/GPM about where is currently at risk for landslides – How to prepare in case of a landslide – Some kind of diagram or visual aid

21. Landslides Hazards Video

22. Landslide Research Possible sources for research: – USGS Landslides Hazards Program: http://landslides.usgs.gov/ http://landslides.usgs.gov/ – Most current data from TRMM about landslide hazards locations: http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/publications_dir/potential_land slide.html http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/publications_dir/potential_land slide.html – Landslide Hazards Publication: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3156/2005-3156.pdf http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3156/2005-3156.pdf – Preparation for Landslides: http://www.ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow http://www.ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow

23. Extension Activities

24. Follow us on Twitter: @NASA_Rain “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NASA.Rainwww.facebook.com/NASA.Rain Precipitation Education Website: pmm.nasa.gov/educationpmm.nasa.gov/education Stay Connected!

25. Extension: Faces of GPM Dr. Kirschbaum discusses her role with GPM, how she became a scientist, and how remotely sensed satellite data can be used to study and evaluate natural hazards such as landslides. Meet a scientist who studies landslides!

26. GPM Core Observatory The GPM Core Observatory will carry two instruments that can view precipitation (rain, snow, ice) in new ways and connect measurements to those taken on other partner satellites GPM Microwave Imager (GMI): 10-183 GHz 13 channels that provides an integrated picture of energy emitted by precipitation, including light to heavy rain to falling snow (Ball Aerospace) Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR): Ku-Ka bands Two different radar frequencies that can look at precipitation in 3-D throughout the atmospheric column (JAXA)

27. Landslides: dynamic agent, destructive force NASA/JPL/University of Arizona Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the on-board HiRISE camera took this image of a landslide in the Zunil Crater, which may have been triggered by a Marsquake or small impact www.bbc.co.uk/

28. Landslides: landscape catalyst, destructive force 28 Landslides happen on Mars and other moons as well! The impact of a meteorite near the edge of Noctis Labyrinthus on Mars appears to have set off an enormous landslide into the canyon. Can you spot the landslide?