what are the different types of landslides

For example, the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology distinguishes the following types of landslides:

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What is the difference between a landslide and a mudslide?

Mudslide

• Landslides and mudslides are both movements of land material.
• A landslide is a general term used to describe the movement of material down a slope or sideways.
• Mudslides always involve small soil particles like clay moving, and the material is always quite liquid and contains water.

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What can landslides do to the Earth?

Landslides are one of the most pervasive hazards in the world, causing thousands of fatalities and billions of dollars in damages each year. While landslides are often small in area, significant triggering events can cause greater impacts, resulting in runout or mobilization of debris that can ex ... When we use Earth-observing data to ...

What is a landslide and what causes one?

What is a Landslide? A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a sloped section of land. Landslides are caused by rain, earthquakes, volcanoes, or other factors that make the slope unstable. Experts also term landslides as one type of 'mass wasting'.

What type of landform causes a landslide?

Landslides – also known as mass movements – are a group of landforms created by the downslope movement of rock or soil due to gravity. Whatever the scale, and whether the movement is fast or slow, all landslides occur when gravity overcomes the strength of the hill slope itself.

What are the 6 types of landslide?

Landslides in bedrockRock falls. Single and small rock falls from cliffs build up to form aprons of scree or talus, sometimes developing over long time periods. ... Rock slope failures. This group of landslides varies greatly in features. ... Rotational landslides. ... Debris flows. ... Creep. ... Solifluction. ... Translational slides.

What are the 4 main types of landslides?

The four main types of movement are:falls.topples.slides (rotational and translational)flows.

What are the 3 types of landslide?

In soil we distinguish the following types of instability: Rotational landslide. Translational landslide. Debris flow.

What are the different types of landslides describe the different types of landslides according to the varnes classification?

The two major types of slides are rotational slides and translational slides. slide in which the surface of rupture is curved concavely upward and the slide movement is roughly rotational about an axis that is parallel to the ground surface and transverse across the slide).

What are the 5 causes of landslide?

Landslides can be initiated in slopes already on the verge of movement by rainfall, snowmelt, changes in water level, stream erosion, changes in ground water, earthquakes, volcanic activity, disturbance by human activities, or any combination of these factors.

What are the two main cause of landslides?

Landslides are caused by disturbances in the natural stability of a slope. They can accompany heavy rains or follow droughts, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. Mudslides develop when water rapidly accumulates in the ground and results in a surge of water-saturated rock, earth, and debris.

Is slump a type of landslide?

Slump - a landslide consisting of a mass of material moving downslope as a unit, usually along a curved plane of failure. The removed mass of soil and rock leave an abrupt drop-off at the top of the landslide known as a scarp.

Where are landslides most common?

The Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coastal Ranges and some parts of Alaska and Hawaii have severe landslide problems. Any area composed of very weak or fractured materials resting on a steep slope can and will likely experience landslides.

What is a landslide Class 9?

A landslide is a downward or outward movement of soil, rock or vegetation, under the influence of gravity. This movement can occur in many ways. It can be a fall, topple, slide, spread or flow. The speed of the movement may range from very slow to rapid.

What is rotational and translational landslide?

Rotational slides commonly show slow movement along a curved rupture surface. Translational slides often are rapid movements along a plane of distinct weakness between the overlying slide material and the more stable underlying material.

What are the different types of slide on a slope?

This type of slope failure takes place around an axis near or at the bottom of the block of rock. Flows: This type of landslide is categorized into five; earth flows, debris avalanche, debris flow, mudflows, and creep, which include seasonal, continuous and progressive.

What is the slowest type of landslide?

The slowest kind of landslide is known as creep. When clay in the soil on a hillside absorbs water, it will expand, causing the soil to swell. As the clay dries and contracts, the particles settle slightly in the downhill direction.

Where are landslides most common?

The Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coastal Ranges and some parts of Alaska and Hawaii have severe landslide problems. Any area composed of very weak or fractured materials resting on a steep slope can and will likely experience landslides.

Which type of landslide can reach the farthest?

Rock falls, disrupted rock slides, and disrupted slides of earth and debris are the most abundant types of earthquake-induced landslides, whereas earth flows, debris flows, and avalanches of rock, earth, or debris typically transport material the farthest.

What are the characteristics of landslides?

The landslide-debris movement and accumulation process involves complex mechanical behaviors such as sliding, collision and accumulation, and is characterized with large deformation and large displacement. The deposit is mainly caused by the rapid accumulation of rock and soil.

What is spread landslide?

In landslide: Types of landslides. A spread is the complex lateral movement of relatively coherent earth materials resting on a weaker substrate that is subject to liquefaction or plastic flow.

How are landslides classified?

The various types of landslides can be differentiated by the kinds of material involved and the mode of movement. A classification system based on these parameters is shown in figure 2. Other classification systems incorporate additional variables, such as the rate of movement and the water, air, or ice content of the landslide material.

Why are landslides so common?

The occurrence of earthquakes in steep landslide-prone areas greatly increases the likelihood that landslides will occur, due to ground shaking alone or shaking-caused dilation of soil materials , which allows rapid infiltration of water. The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake caused widespread landsliding and other ground failure, which caused most of the monetary loss due to the earthquake. Other areas of the United States, such as California and the Puget Sound region in Washington, have experienced slides, lateral spreading, and other types of ground failure due to moderate to large earthquakes. Widespread rockfalls also are caused by loosening of rocks as a result of ground shaking. Worldwide, landslides caused by earthquakes kill people and damage structures at higher rates than in the United States.

How do landslides cause flooding?

Landslides can cause flooding by forming landslide dams that block valleys and stream channels, allowing large amounts of water to back up. This causes backwater flooding and, if the dam fails, subsequent downstream flooding. Also, solid landslide debris can "bulk" or add volume and density to otherwise normal streamflow or cause channel blockages and diversions creating flood conditions or localized erosion. Landslides can also cause overtopping of reservoirs and/or reduced capacity of reservoirs to store water.

How can landslide hazards be reduced?

Local governments can reduce landslide effects through land-use policies and regulations. Individuals can reduce their exposure to hazards by educating themselves on the past hazard history of a site and by making inquiries to planning and engineering departments of local governments. They can also obtain the professional services of an engineering geologist, a geotechnical engineer, or a civil engineer, who can properly evaluate the hazard potential of a site, built or unbuilt.

Why are landsliding and flooding closely related?

Landsliding and flooding are closely allied because both are related to precipitation, runoff, and the saturation of ground by water. In addition, debris flows and mudflows usually occur in small, steep stream channels and often are mistaken for floods; in fact, these two events often occur simultaneously in the same area.

How to reduce landslide risk?

The hazard from landslides can be reduced by avoiding construction on steep slopes and existing landslides, or by stabilizing the slopes. Stability increases when ground water is prevented from rising in the landslide mass by (1) covering the landslide with an impermeable membrane, (2) directing surface water away from the landslide, (3) draining ground water away from the landslide, and (4) minimizing surface irrigation. Slope stability is also increased when a retaining structure and/or the weight of a soil/rock berm are placed at the toe of the landslide or when mass is removed from the top of the slope.

What are the different types of flows?

FLOWS: There are five basic categories of flows that differ from one another in fundamental ways. a. Debris flow : A debris flow is a form of rapid mass movement in which a combination of loose soil, rock, organic matter, air, and water mobilize as a slurry that flows downslope (fig. 3F).

What is the most devastating type of landslide?

Volcanic landslides, also called lahar s, are among the most devastating type of landslides. The largest landslide in recorded history took place after the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in the U.S. state of Washington.

How to describe a landslide?

Landslide Movement. There are several ways of describing how a landslide moves. These include falls, topples, translational slides, lateral spreads, and flows.

What is a landslide?

A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope d section of land. Landslides are caused by rain, earthquake s, volcano es, or other factors that make the slope unstable .

How much damage does a landslide cause?

Near populated areas, landslides present major hazard s to people and property. Landslides cause an estimated 25 to 50 deaths and $3.5 billion in damage each year in the United States.

How fast do landslides move?

Another factor that might be important for describing landslides is the speed of the movement. Some landslides move at many meters per second , while others creep along at an centimeter or two a year. The amount of water, ice, or air in the earth should also be considered.

What is translational slide?

In translational slide s, surface material is separated from the more stable underlying layer of a slope. An earthquake may shake the loosen top layer of soil from the harder earth beneath in this type of landslide. A lateral spread or flow is the movement of material sideways, or laterally.

How big was the landslide in Utah?

A mass of earth eventually totaling 305 meters wide, 61 meters thick, and 1.6 kilometers long (1,000 feet wide, 200 feet thick, and one mile long) slid across the nearby Spanish Fork River, ...

What is a landslide?

Landslide Definition. The movement of the rocks or debris etc. on a slope downwards is called a landslide. It is a type of "mass wasting " which refers to the movement of any mass, soil, or rocks under the influence of gravity. It is one of the natural hazards and can be a disaster if the damages occur in large amounts.

What are the causes of land landslides?

Landslides are caused because of heavy rains, earthquakes, deforestation, volcanic eruptions, construction of roads, and buildings or houses, etc. It can lead to many short-term and long-term effects on the environment, location, and people. It can lead to loss of property and life.

What is the movement of rocks called?

Answer. It is also known as the Mass Movement. The movement of the rocks or debris etc. On a slope downwards is called a landslide. It is a type of " mass wasting " which refers to the movement of any mass, soil, or rocks under the influence of gravity. It is one of the natural hazards and can be a disaster if the damages occur in large amounts.

Why do landslides occur?

Deforestation is also one of the main reasons for landslides because trees, plants, etc. keep the soil particles compact and due to deforestation the mountain slopes lose their protective layers because of which the water of the rain flows with unimpeded speed on these slopes.

What can be done to identify areas that are more prone to landslides?

Hazard mapping can be done to identify the areas which are more prone to landslides. Restriction on the construction in the risky areas should be imposed. Afforestation programs should take place. Restricting development in landslide areas and protecting the existing ones.

How much of India is vulnerable to natural hazards?

It is one of the natural hazards in India which affects 15% of the geographical area of our country. Due to several factors, India is divided into the following vulnerability zones which are shown in the table below:

Can volcanic eruptions cause landslides?

Volcanic eruptions in specific regions can also cause landslides.

How are landslides classified?

Landslides are generally classified by type of movement (slides, flows, spreads, topples, or falls) and type of material (rock, debris, or earth). Sometimes more than one type of movement occurs within a single landslide, and, because the temporal and spatial relationships of these movements are often complex, their analysis often requires detailed ...

What is the difference between a landslide and a flow?

A type of landslide in which the distribution of particle velocities resembles that of a viscous fluid is called a flow. The most important fluidizing agent is water, but trapped air is sometimes involved. Contact between the flowing mass and the underlying material can be distinct, or the contact can be one of diffuse shear. The difference between slides and flows is gradational, with variations in fluid content, mobility, and type of movement, and composite slide movement and flow movement are common.

What is a land slide?

Landslide, the movement downslope of a mass of rock, debris, earth, or soil. Landslides occur when gravitational and other types of shear stresses within a slope exceed the shear strength (resistance to shearing) of the materials that form the slope.

What is the spread of a material?

A spread is the complex lateral movement of relatively coherentearth materials resting on a weaker substrate that is subject to liquefactionor plastic flow. Coherent blocks of material subside into the weaker substrate, and the slow downslope movement frequently extends long distances as a result of the retrogressive extension from the zone of origin, such as an eroding riverbank or coastline. Spreads occur as the result of liquefaction caused by water saturation or earthquakeshock in such substrates as loess, a weakly cemented wind-lain silt.

What is translational slide?

A translational slide typically takes place along structural features, such as a bedding plane or the interface between resistant bedrock and weaker overlying material. If the overlying material moves as a single, little-deformed mass, it is called a block slide.

What causes a rock to spread?

Spreads occur as the result of liquefaction caused by water saturation or earthquake shock in such substrates as loess, a weakly cemented wind-lain silt. Rotation of a mass of rock, debris, or earth outward from a steep slope face is called toppling. This type of movement can subsequently cause the mass to fall or slide.

What is the difference between a disaster and a landslide?

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Disasters are nature’s way to signify its aggression to the deeds of humans. Landslides occur naturally and may also be a result of human activities. The movement of a mass of rock, soil, and debris, down the slope, which is regulated by gravitational forces can be defined, as landslides.

What causes a landslide?

Although a landslide is usually the result of an action of gravitational forces, it is sometimes also initiated by rainfall, snowmelt, change in water level, stream erosion, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, disturbance by human activities or a combination of these factors.

How to reduce the chances of landslides?

Treatment of the Slope Shape: The stability failure is one of the root causes of landslides and by working on slope stabilization, we can reduce the chances of it. A load of soil and water content at the crown of the slope diminishes the shear strength of the terrains. Producing deliberate cuts to change the geometry of the slope and construction of terraces and berms is also an effective way of mitigation of landslides. Moreover, digging out the brow of the slope in a stepwise fashion reduces its angles.

What are the forces that determine the magnitude of a landslide?

These forces are the parameters that determine the magnitude of the landslide. An increase of the shear strength or the decrease of the material strength is responsible for the type of landslides that may occur. The forces triggered in correspondence with rainfall, snowmelt, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions etc.

How do land slides affect volcanoes?

Volcanic Eruptions: Landslides through volcanoes have a drastic impact. The tall, steep volcanic cones are susceptible to lateral pressures as they get weakened by the rise and eruption of the molten rocks. The hot magma from the volcanoes causes the clay to swell. This swelling take place due to hot volcanic gases that are partially dissolved in the groundwater and forms an acidic hydrothermal system. Eventually, the system weakens the firm rocks and soil which tend to slip down the steep slopes.

Why is a landslide assessment important?

Thus, landslide assessment gives a clear picture for identifying the potential measures to be taken while evaluating the causes and types of landslides. Knowing the types of landslides will also help in minimizing the risks and damages amidst the alarming situation. Landslides take the lives of thousands of people across the world. Therefore, the strategic implementation of safety measures is required. But before diving into it, let’s see the causes of landslides.

What is the effect of snowmelt on landslides?

Snowmelt: The increase of load (weight of snow) and prolonged rapid snowmelt on slopes make the areas around it prone to landslides. The intense surface-flow mobilizes the rocks and soil and induces landslides. This is also an example of when shear strength of the surface takes over the material strength.

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Landslides and Volcanic Activity

• Landslides due to volcanic activity are some of the most devastating types. Volcanic lava may melt snow at a rapid rate, causing a deluge of rock, soil, ash, and water that accelerates rapidly on the steep slopes of volcanoes, devastating anything in its path. These volcanic debris flows (also known as lahars) reach great distances, once they leave...

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Types of Landslides

• They can occur because of various reasons. We can classify them into four categories which are mentioned below: 1. Falls Landslides It means falling of some material or debris or rocks etc., from a slope or a cliff which leads to a collection of this debris at the base of the slope. (Image will be Uploaded soon) 1. Topple Landslides These can occur...

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