Utah Geological Survey
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Which States Are Prone to Landslides — and How Can You Prepare?

nbcnews.com 

While a landslide can theoretically occur anywhere there is elevated terrain, some areas of the nation are more prone to the phenomenon than others — like Washington state, where a mudslide destroyed a community and claimed at least 14 lives on Saturday.

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Read further about landslides and Kennecott Copper Mine’s slide last year—likely the largest landslide in modern U.S. history.

wunderground.com

Weather Extremes: Worst Landslides in U.S. History

As Jeff Masters recently blogged the Oso, Washington landslide has taken the lives of at least 14 people and perhaps many more. How does this slide compare to other such events in U.S. history?

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Utah Geological Survey
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Mudslides Explained: Behind the Washington State Disaster

An informative read on mudslides and the contributing natural factors that cause incidents like the recent Washington State mudslide disaster.

news.nationalgeographic.com

A fatal mudslide in rural northwestern Washington State over the weekend underscores the dangers of this fast-moving natural hazard.

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Utah Geological Survey
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March 24, 1834: Legendary American explorer John Wesley Powell is born

my.news.yahoo.com

Not only did John Wesley Powell row down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, he did it with only one arm. Before that, he had already fought through a war, walked across Wisconsin and rowed down the Mississippi, the Ohio and the Illinois Rivers. Later in his life, he would direct the US Geological Survey and the Bureau of Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution. But it was his quest to research the American West that really made him famous as one of America’s most intrepid travelers.

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Utah Geological Survey

New Plate Tectonics Model May Explain How Continents Grow

huffingtonpost.com

Continents grow like onions, with rings of younger rocks added layer by layer to the perimeter of an ancient landmass. But even though scientists know where continents get bigger, plate tectonic models have never fully explained the how.

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Utah Geological Survey

A Concise History of Geological Maps: From Outcrop to the first Map

blogs.scientificamerican.com

March 23, 1769 marks the birthday of pioneering stratigrapher William Smith, who is also credited with creating the first useful geological map, however like many other great accomplishments also Smith’s idea of depicting the distribution of rocks on a topographic map didn’t materialize out of nowhere.

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Utah Geological Survey
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Marc Deshowitz Explains Geology of Silver Reef

mesquitecitizen.com

Friends of Gold Butte presented its monthly lecture at the Mesquite Community Theatre on March 19, featuring geologist Marc Deshowitz. Having presented several other lectures on geologic history to the group, Deshowitz was literally brought back by “popular demand” of the audience.

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Utah Geological Survey

Scientist: Fossil Plants Help Tell Planet's Past, Present and Future

kuer.org

Fossils tell the story of the world’s past and the next Frontiers of Science lecture will explore what the fossils also say about current times and the future.

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Utah Geological Survey

Explore: Two enchanting slot canyons, one Utah day-hike of a lifetime; Peek-A-Boo to Spooky Gulch

A great read now that Spring is officially here!

stgeorgeutah.com

In a vast, desolate section of the Southern Utah desert, two magnificent natural passageways sit hidden below the surface a half-mile from each other: Peek-A-Boo and Spooky gulches. When linked together, these slot canyons make for a day hike into the depths of a desert underworld that will captivate even the most seasoned adventurer.

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Utah Geological Survey
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‘Chicken from hell’ — University of Utah researcher helps discover new dinosaur

sltrib.com

A newly discovered birdlike feathered dinosaur with sharp claws and a tall crest on its head is the biggest of its kind found in North America. Nicknamed the “chicken from hell,” the fossilized remains announced Wednesday were found by a team that includes a University of Utah researcher. The findings also shed light on the creature’s mysterious genetic relatives.

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Read more about this giant ‘chicken’ in this great article from NPR:

The 500-Pound ‘Chicken From Hell’ Likely Ate Whatever It Wanted
npr.org

For the past decade, dinosaur scientists have been puzzling over a set of fossil bones they variously describe as weird and bizarre. Now they’ve what animal they belonged to: a bird-like creature they’re calling “the chicken from hell.”

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Utah Geological Survey
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"Goblin Topplers" Sentenced to Probation with Restitution

kutv.com

Two Highland men who sang and danced as they toppled an ancient rock formation in Goblin Valley State Park pleaded guilty to charges reduced from felonies to misdemeanors in an Emery County courtroom Tuesday.

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