Ground Failure

Special Interest Group

Ground Failure

Shallow subsurface properties in the Pacific Northwest not only influence the characteristics of ground shaking from large earthquakes (SIG2) but also control coseismic cascading hazards, e.g., landslides, liquefaction, lateral spreading and ground failure. Quantifying these subsurface properties is critical owing to the extensive alluvial deposits, unstable mountainous terrain, and significant precipitation in the region. The purpose of the Ground Failure SIG is to appropriately steer this shallow hazard focus and help translate related working group outputs into societal relevant products, while working directly with federal (e.g., USGS) and state agencies (e.g., CGS, DOGAMI, and WA DNR) for whom ground failure estimates are a priority.