dick
iverson
geology 1977
"Landslides in
the field don't always cooperate with you."
Because landslides can be so unpredictable, Dick Iverson decided to do
something about it. He has devised a way he could observe debris flows firsthand,
creating a debris flow flume in Oregon. Dick and other U.S. Geological Survey
researchers now utilize the giant 100-meter long, 2-meter wide cement flume
bolted to the side of a mountain at a 30-degree angle. The subsequent experiments
Dick has conducted at the site have been used to improve computer models for
predicting the behavior of mudflows and to verify theories about previous flows.
"Doing experiments in a controlled environment gives us a huge advantage."
