Geomorphological Hazards in Los Angeles A Study of Slope and Sediment in a Metropolitan County

This book, first published in 1984, deals authoritatively with the nature and management of slope failures and sediment movement and their impact on the hazardous landscape of Los Angeles county. Bringing together for the first time a wide range of information derived from field observations, interviews, manuscript records, local agency reports and published sources, the book presents an analysis of the ways in which a rapidly developing metropolis has come to terms with complex geomorphological hazards. In particular, the events accompanying the major storms of 1914, 1934, 1969 and 1978 are reconstructed in detail.

Part 1. Contexts 1. Geomorphological Hazards 2. The Hazard Context 2.1. Predetermining Conditions 2.2. Dynamics of Change 3. Geomorphological Processes 3.1. Slope Decomposition 3.2. Slope Erosion 3.3. Slope Failure 3.4. Channel Flows and Sediment Yield 3.5. Conclusion: the Fundamental Problem Part 2. Crises 4. A Sequence of Storms 4.1. 1914 4.2. 1934 4.3. 1938 4.4. 1969 4.5. 1978 4.6. Conclusion: Before and Between Crises Part 3. Consequences 5. Response and Responsibility 5.1. Conflicts 5.2. Patterns of Response 5.3. A Management Hierarchy 6. Management Responses 6.1. Emergency Responses 6.2. Paying the Price: Relief, Insurance and Litigation 6.3. Improving Understanding: Evaluation and Prediction 6.4. Anticipating Problems: Abatement and Control Part 4. Coda 7. Costs and Benefits in Context 7.1. Within Los Angeles County 7.2. County, State and Nation 8. Sequences and Cycles

R.U. Cooke