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The truth behind landslides: Do you know what factors contribute to soil instability?
Landslides, or landslides, illustrate an amazing phenomenon in nature. Whether in mountains, continental margins, or more gentle terrain, landslides can have devastating consequences. In the geological environment, the causes of landslides are mostly related to gravity, but in fact there are many factors that affect slope stability, making slopes more susceptible to collapse. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the various factors that contribute to soil instability.
Main causes of landslides
Landslides usually occur when a slope undergoes some change that makes an otherwise stable slope unstable. These changes may be due to a decrease in the shear strength of the sliding material, an increase in the shear stress experienced by the sliding material, or a combination of both. Here are some examples of natural factors and human activities that can affect slope stability:
Natural causes include increased moisture from rainwater infiltration, melting snow, or rising ground water levels.
Human activities may change the amount of water and soil infiltration through deforestation, construction, and farming, further exacerbating the risk of landslides.
The relationship between human activities and landslides
Human development and resource development have a significant impact on the occurrence of landslide events. For example, Urban expansion and development may weaken soil stability. Changes in land use, such as the abandonment of farming, have led to an increase in ground collapse in some areas.
In addition to changes in terrain, extreme climate events caused by global warming, such as heavy rains and long-term droughts, may also trigger landslides.
Classification of landslides
Landslides can be divided into several types based on different movement mechanisms. Here are some of the main categories:
Rockfalls and slides
In this type, individual rocks or clods of soil fall freely downward and are called "rockfalls." "Sliding" means that the entire mass of soil keeps moving completely on the slope.
Mud flow and solution flow
When slope materials are saturated with water, mudflows or melt flows can occur, potentially threatening buildings or natural resources below the slope. This phenomenon is particularly common in high mountain areas.
Shallow and deep landslides
Shallow landslides refer to sliding surfaces located within the soil cover or weathered bedrock, usually at a depth of several decimeters to several meters, while deep landslides involve deeper strata, with a broad range of influence and long-term terrain shaping.
Related phenomena and risks
Landslide-related hazards are not limited to damage to rivers or soil structures. Dangerous "avalanches" and "volcanic eruptions" can also be regarded as phenomena that suddenly release large amounts of natural materials. These phenomena also pose great threats.
Landslide prediction and management
Carrying out landslide risk analysis and mapping can provide important guidance for reducing disaster losses. These analyzes are often combined with topography, geology, land use and other factors to help us predict possible future landslide events.
Thinking about the future
As climate change intensifies and human activities continue to increase, the frequency of landslides may also increase. This requires us not only to improve our understanding of the causes of landslides, but also to continuously improve land management and development strategies to reduce threats to the environment and life when disasters occur. As we face the challenges of the future, can we find more effective ways to deal with the disasters caused by landslides?
