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DRRR Q2-TOPIC 2

The document discusses the causes of landslides and sinkholes, detailing both natural and human-induced factors. Natural causes of landslides include climate changes, earthquakes, weathering, erosion, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and gravity, while human causes involve mining and clear-cutting. Sinkholes are primarily caused by the dissolution of sedimentary rocks and human activities like underground water pumping that alter drainage systems.

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18 views

DRRR Q2-TOPIC 2

The document discusses the causes of landslides and sinkholes, detailing both natural and human-induced factors. Natural causes of landslides include climate changes, earthquakes, weathering, erosion, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and gravity, while human causes involve mining and clear-cutting. Sinkholes are primarily caused by the dissolution of sedimentary rocks and human activities like underground water pumping that alter drainage systems.

Uploaded by

maryrosegimaoencinares
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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YOUR TOPIC: Causes of Other Related Geological Hazards

YOUR TARGET:

 Enumerate the causes of a landslide and a sinkhole.


 Explain the causes of a landslide and a sinkhole
 Appreciate the importance of knowing the causes of different geological hazards.

CAUSES OF GEOLOGIC HAZARDS

LANDSLIDE

NATURAL CAUSES OF LANDSLIDES

– Climate

Long-term climatic changes can significantly impact soil stability. A general reduction in precipitation leads to lowering of
water table and reduction in overall weight of soil mass, reduced solution of materials and less powerful freeze-thaw
activity. A significant upsurge in precipitation or ground saturation would dramatically increase the level of ground water.
When sloped areas are completely saturated with water, landslides can occur. If there is absence of mechanical root
support, the soils start to run off.

– Earthquakes

Seismic activities have, for a long time, contributed to landslides across the globe. Any moment tectonic plates move, the
soil covering them also moves along. When earthquakes strike areas with steep slopes, on numerous occasion, the soil slips
leading to landslides In addition, ashen debris flows instigated by earthquakes could also cause mass soil movement.

– Weathering

It is the natural procedure of rock deterioration that leads to weak, landslide-susceptive materials. It is brought about by the
chemical action of water, air, plants and bacteria. When the rocks are weak enough, they slip away causing landslides.

– Erosion

Erosion caused by sporadic running water such as streams, rivers, wind, currents, ice and waves wipes out latent and lateral
slope support enabling landslides to occur easily.

– Volcanic eruption

If an eruption occurs in a wet condition, the soil will start to move downhill instigating a landslide. Stratovolcano is a typical
example of volcano responsible for most landslides across the globe. Volcanic gases partially dissolve in groundwater which
turns into acidic hydrothermal systems that weakens rock by altering minerals to clay.

– Forest fires

Burns vegetation that holds soil in place. Since it takes time for vegetation to re-establish on steep slopes, the risk of
landslides prevails or up to 20 years in dry climates. Wildfire removes the protective ability of vegetation which increases
runoff, erosion, and debris flow because the water cannot penetrate through the soil thus carrying the debris downslope.
burrowing insects also play a role by aerating the soil destabilizing it during a wildfire because they tend to seek for cooler
soil to survive.

– Gravity

Steeper slopes coupled with gravitational force can trigger a massive landslide. Steeper slopes can also cause the debris to
move farther from the foot of the area.
HUMAN CAUSES OF LANDSLIDES

– Mining

Mining activities that utilize blasting techniques contribute mightily to landslides. Vibrations emanating from the blasts can
weaken soils in other areas susceptible to landslides. The weakening of soil means a landslide can occur anytime. Earthwork
alters the shape of a slope, imposing new loads on an existing slope.

– Clear cutting

Clear cutting is a technique of timber harvesting that eliminates all old trees from the area. This technique is dangerous
since it decimates the existing mechanical root structure of the area. It changes the amount of water infiltrating the soil.

Rainfall-Induced landslides are the most common and widespread damaging landslides in the Philippines, with an average
of 20 typhoons each year due to prolonged or heavy rainfall. Most rainfall induced landslides are shallow (less than a few
meters deep), thin, and move quickly. Rainfall can be a cause for landslides, but soil conditions are also very critical.
Researchers wanted to take into account a number of variables, including weather type, soil type and land-cover
characteristics. However, there was no single source for the data they needed.

The features of precipitation occurrences, including the accumulated volume of rainfall, length and severity, and the slope
of the terrain show the greatest effect on the stability of the slope and the rate of occurrence of landslides and debris. In
addition, the precipitation-induced landslide depends on the type of land covered and the type of soil. In short, the cause of
rainfall-induced landslides still rely on the factors mentioned.

Types of Landslide

1. Soil Creep Landslide is a very slow downslope movement of particles that occurs in every slope covered with loose,
weathered material (Britannica dictionary).

The level of creep induced by one rainfall has a strong association with the amount of rainfall and changes in soil
moisture. For the valley-head slope, the dirt creeps down and accumulates a hollow portion of the head at the bottom
of the bottleneck, under which the dirt is compressed and forms a wave shaped soil.

2. Slumping Landslide is a downward movement of rock debris, usually


the consequence of removal of buttressing earth at the foot of a
slope of unconsolidated material (Britannica dictionary).

3. Debris Flow Landslide happens when the slope becomes saturated


with water, this then triggers a landslide of water-soaked mass of
rock and soil that slides down the slope.

4. Rock Fall landslides are sudden slides caused by heavy rain the rock on the slope loosens and
then slides down the slope.
SINKHOLE

NATURAL CAUSES OF SINKHOLE

Dissolution of sedimentary rocks

Sinkholes occur when sedimentary rocks are dissolved. When these rocks are dissolved, it can either form a void of water
or air. A void filled with air forma a hole and a void filled with underground water makes a lake or a pond. Sinkholes can be
in the form of holes or depressions on the ground.

HUMAN CAUSES OF SINKHOLE

Underground water pumping

Pumping water underneath the ground causes drainage to alter their flow which causes the soil to be eroded by water.
Broken pipes underneath the ground can also cause internal erosion making a void underneath the ground. Altering
drainage systems cause water to branch into other routes where there is soluble rock can cause erosion through the flow of
water.

Types of Sinkholes

- Different types of sinkholes are made by various causes.

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