Rain, steep slopes put NY community at risk of landslides, geologist warns
UC expert talks to NBC station about risk of landslides
News10-NBC in Rochester turned to a University of Cincinnati geosciences expert to explain recent landslides that have occurred in some parts of the state this week after heavy rains.
Associate Professor Dan Sturmer studies landslides and earthquakes, among other topics, in the Department of Geosciences in UC's College of Arts and Sciences. He told News10 that heavy rain combined with steep slopes can be a recipe for disaster.
UC Associate Professor Dan Sturmer studies earthquakes and landslides, among other topics, in UC's Department of Geosciences. Photo/Michael Miller
“That’s kind of making that slope then become unstable,” Sturmer said.
Sturmer and other geoscientists use satellite imagery and analytical tools to predict the risk of landslides. He shared a risk heat map compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey for the affected town called Irondequoit.
“Anywhere there's a stream channel around Irondequoit, susceptibility is really high in that area,“ Sturmer said.
Sturmer and Associate Professor Dylan Ward received a grant last year to study landslide-prone areas in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for the U.S. Geological Survey landslide inventory.
Featured image at top: UC Associate Professor Dan Sturmer talked to News10-NBC about landslides around Rochester, N.Y. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC
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