By Ben Brown

&
Liam Hanks
Landslides
 What is a landslide?
• Definition- The downward sliding of a relatively
dry mass of earth and rock. (Dictionary.com)
• The term landslide includes a wide range of
ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure
of slopes, and shallow debris flows.
 Effects on the Environment
• Destroys the slope/hill
• Eliminates all vegetation
• Buries houses and sometimes entire villages
• Weakens the slope and makes it more susceptible
to further landslides
A Landslide
• Landslide in South
America
• 400-500m high
• Only half of hill
visible.
 Landslide Diagram

This is a diagram of how a landslide moved

from a high point to the lowest elevation on the
Island (a lake).
 Landslide Damages
• $1 billion in damages per year
• 50 to 75 deaths per landslide
 What causes a landslide?
• Erosion causing
extremely steep slopes
• Powerful earthquakes
• Excess weight on
unstable soil
• Volcanic eruptions
– Ash
– Great force
Slope/Chance of Landslide
 Where do they occur the most?
• Landslides can occur on any steep slope and
commonly occur in
– The U.S.A.
– Appalachian Mountains
– Rocky Mountains
– Pacific Coastal Regions
– South America
 Recent landslides
• Brazil, January 2003, 8 people killed
• March 4, 2003 14 people killed, 400 buried in
Bolivia
• March 19th, 2003 7 people killed, 13 injured, and
20+ missing in Western Columbia
• April 1st, 2003 400 homes buried,700people
missing Bolivia landslide
• April 2, 2003 34 people killed in Indonesian
flood/landslide
Bolivia, March 4, 2003
 World’s Worst
• 1911 • 1980
• Usoy, Tajikistan • Mount St. Helen’s,
• 1.5mi of rock Washington state
• 1880ft. Damn • 1.7mi of rock
• Very few deaths • Less than 60 fatalities
Landslides in Central America
Landslides in India
Landslides in Canada
 Extra-Terrestrial Landslides?
This shows a landslide on
• Think landslides occur the side of a crater on the
only on earth? surface of Mars
Mudslides
 What is a Mudslide?
• Definition-A mudflow, especially a slow-moving
one.
• The same as a landslide, only involving lots of
water
 What Causes a Mudslide?
• Over saturation of soil due to melting snow and/or
heavy rain
• Erosion of land by rivers or other water
• Open hill sides due to fire
• Anything that causes a lack of vegetation and
therefore stability on a slope
• Violent storms and blasting of weak slopes will
cause heavy amounts of precipitation to weaken a
slope
Mudslide Damages
• $1 billion USD in
damages per year
• 50 to 75 deaths
annually (in US)
Mudslide in California
 Bibliography
• http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/971008landslide/#cause
• http://www.insurance.ca.gov/EXECUTIVE/CatSeries/Mudslide/Mudslides.htm#IS%20I
T%20A%20MUDFLOW
• http://nwgeoscience.com/kelso/photos/index.html
• http://geography.about.com/library/misc/blcenturyworst.htm
• http://www.csre.iitb.ac.in/rn/resume/landslide/india.htm
• http://landslides.usgs.gov/html_files/nlic/page1.html
• http://sts.gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/clf/landslides.asp
• http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=landslides
• http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Apr03/020403/wn04.htm
• http://www.terradaily.com/2003/030319185450.njyfyetz.html
• http://mitchnts1.cr.usgs.gov/images/landslide.gif
• http://mitchnts1.cr.usgs.gov/images/school_1.jpg
• http://mitchnts1.cr.usgs.gov/images/zompopera_5.jpg
• http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=mudslides
• www.insurance.ca.gov/executive/catseries/mudslide/mudslides.htm
• http://landslides.usgs.gov/html_files/landslides/landslideimages.htm
• Www.gordian.com/users/nathan/trek/pk-landslide.jpg
• Www.educeth.chlsfromboli/perm/cl/landslide-en.html
• Http://landslides.usgs.gov/html_files/nlie/page5.html
• Http://sts.gsc.nrean.gc.ca/clf/landslides.asp
• Http:/cnews.canoe.ca/cnews/world/2003/world/2003/04/02/56407-ap.html
• Www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm2storyID=3350482&thesection=news&thesubscri
ption=world/
• Http://geology.wcedu.pima.edu/~rstilgnbave/landpics.html
• Http://earthquake.usgs.gov/image_glossary/images/landslide.jpg
• Www.simonfinch.com/images/landslide.jpg
• Http://ceenve.ca/poly.edu/fiegel/images/landslide.jpg
• Www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1996/ts3/images/ts3003.gif
• Www.rsr.org/landslides.html
• Www.em.gov.bc.ca.winning/geosurv/surficial/landslid/is3.htm
• Www.discoverjasper.com/rmhiking/slope.htm
• Www.disasterrelief.org/disasters/971008landslide/
• Http:/menews.nzoom.com/onenews_detail/0,1227,154515-1-9,oo.html
• Http://menews.nzoom.com/onenews_detail/0,1227,13226-1-9,00.html
• Www.msss.com/mars_images.moc/lpsc2000/3_00_massmovement/