On the Edges - The Landslides

Landslides may not happen everywhere or all the time, but when they happen, it is extremely dangerous. When a huge mass of rock, debris and mud moves down a slope, it takes everything in its way. Houses, roads, trees and electric lines are just powerless toys in the strong stream of a fast moving landslide. If you don’t get out of its way in time, you will become a helpless part of the slide.

Causes of landslide

After a heavy rain or a severe storm the ground is soaked with water and slowly shifting. If the stability of a slope is in jeopardy and gravity takes its toll, a landslide occurs. In other cases, Wildfires, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions destabilize the slope (making the ground less firm), while the groundwater is causing damage from the inside. Another cause of landslides may be erosion from a river or ocean, melting snow or glacier. Human activity is also one of the causes of landslides. Various construction, deforestation or earthwork that is altering the slopes can also cause a dangerous landslide or mudslide. Even secondary causes such as vibrations from machinery or traffic can possibly cause a landslide. That is why proper caution and regulation is necessary over activity like construction and traffic.

Types of landslide

Not every landslide is the same, even if the land sliding down may seem to be. Debris flow is usually a mix of rocks, mud and wood, mostly liquid in appearance and looking like flowing concrete. Earth flow is a quick flow of clay, sand and silt that moves fast when water saturates the earth material enough for the gravity to start pulling it down. Landslides such as debris avalanche or sturzstrom are rare and large.

Landslide prediction

Unlike earthquakes or tornadoes, landslides are generally easy to predict. Using GIS (Geographic Information System) and satellite images, we can easily predict problem locations and issue warnings to people. Even though a landslide is a natural disaster, with proper management of its causes and expected occurrence we can avoid property damage and loss of lives.