Geology and El Niño in the desert:
El Niño-spawned landslides, debris-flows, and flash floods as geologic processes that create the desert landscape

Although the Mojave Desert and nearby arid lands of the southwestern U.S. appear nearly lifeless and the landscapes appear static, the geologic processes that created this landscape are among the most active of any place in the world. The low density of vegetation allows surface materials, whether rock, sand, or dust, to move readily. The static-appearing landscape is actually changing continuously, and many times when changes occur the results are catastrophic for desert residents.

Major storms probably cause the greatest landscape change in the desert. For this reason, USGS, in partnership with many agencies, is establishing monitoring stations throughout the desert to establish "before" and "after" conditions and to describe as many catastrophic floods and flows as possible. The goal is to understand where, when, and how these catastrophic events take place in order to mitigate damage from future events.

El Niño in the desert: What might happen? Catastrophic events change the landscape

U.S. Geological Survey desert response for El Niño storms

• Monitoring floods and debris flows
• Monitoring wind-driven dust and sand
• Describing past overland floods from extreme storms to understand possible future floods

Desert studies by USGS programs

• Climate studies Understanding past climates to forecast the future
• Ecosystem studies Describing vulnerability and recoverability of the desert
• Wind-blown dust Where does the dust come from and deos it go?
  

For further information, contact David Miller

http://geology.wr.usgs.gov/wgmt/elnino/deserten/, 30 November 1999, Contact: El Niño Web Team