Landslides Essay

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Landslides can occur for different reasons and in different areas. They usually occur when an earthquake strikes where a slope is too steep. When the earthquake occurs, the soil slips and causes a landslide. Landslides can also be triggered by heavy rainfall. This happens when the soil becomes completely saturated. This also means that areas where houses are located on a hill, can be tremendously affected and result in a huge amount of property damage. Landslides have an effect on public safety, economics, scientific exploration, and urban planning. They require a geologist for many reasons. Houses built on a hill can be ruined due to a landslide. Landslides cause property damage, death, injury, and can even effect our resources. Roads can also be damaged and can take forever to be rebuilt or fixed. This effects the economy because not only is it expensive to repair roadways, but it is also a hassle to find a new transportation route. If property is damaged, this can also result in the loss of property value. Landslides in general, come with cost. Geologists are needed to determine whether or not a certain hill is safe enough to be built on. If it is determined to be unsafe, then this means that houses cannot be built because they are aware that a landslide will eventually occur and cause damage in the future. One might say that an easier way to prevent a landslide is by avoiding the problem or relocating a road to avoid a future landslide. However, geologists can also study the area to see if it is prone to earthquakes, aftershocks and landslides. They can study the soil, erosion processes, steepness of the slope, and types of rocks that are making the bedding planes. This will help with eliminating risk factors that endanger...

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..., then it could be that the area is in low permeability clay-like soils. This can lead to a landslide after a number of rain storms that eventually lead to a final rainfall session that causes the landslide. The groundwater pressure affects the slope stability of the area. If a landslide was in fact occurring because of rainfall, we would see a wave of material suddenly appearing. You would be able to measure how fast it’s going because rainfall does affect the speed of the landslide. The ground will get waterlogged by the heavy rain. If the landslide were occurring because of an earthquake, you would be able to feel the land vibrate from the movement. These landslides can typically begin to carry objects like cars, houses, and trees. The earthquake may cause a lower amount of frictional resistance and a difference in the pore water pressure caused by an earthquake.

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