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ERTH Seminar Series: Dr. Scott McCoy, UNDERSTANDING POST-WILDFIRE DEBRIS-FLOW ACTIVITY ACROSS CLIMATES: INSIGHTS ON INITIATION CONDITIONS AND FLOW IDENTIFICATION
Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024, 1–2 p.m.
Science Building, 4th floor open-space
Dr. Scott McCoy Associate Professor of Geological Engineering University of Nevada, Reno The size, frequency, and geographic scope of severe wildfires are expanding in the Western U.S. and globally, exposing an ever-larger population to fire-related hazards. Compared to unburned areas, recently-burned steeplands have an increased likelihood of runoff-generated debris flows, which are triggered by heavy short-duration rainfall and pose hazards to downstream communities. As the geographic and climatic scope of severe wildfire expands, the degree to which the initiation conditions of these flows vary with local hydroclimate is unknown. This research aims to both investigate the relationship between postfire debris-flow initiation and climate at regional and local scales, and to develop tools for accurately identifying recent debris-flow events. Scott McCoy started his education at the University of Washington, completed a PhD studying debris flows at the University of Colorado, and finished with a postdoc split between MIT and ETH Zürich. His current research focuses on natural hazards and landscape evolution with a particular emphasis on debris flows and glacier lake outburst floods.
Todd Greene 530-898-5546 https://www.csuchico.edu/erth/seminar/spring-2024.shtml