LANDSLIDES

• Definition
• Types of Landslides
• Causes of Landslides
• Impacts
• Prevention & Remediation
 Definition

► A Landslide, also called landslip, is the

downslope movement of a mass of rock, earth,
or soil (soil being a mixture of earth and debris).
► Landslides are a type of "mass wasting," which
denotes any down-slope movement of soil and
rock under the direct influence of gravity.
► Slope movement occurs when forces acting
down-slope (mainly due to gravity) exceed the
strength of the earth materials that compose the
slope.
 Types of Landslides

1. Rotational Landslides occur where 2. Translational Slides occurs when the

more resistant rocks founder over failure surface is approximately flat or
underlying weaker rocks.  slightly undulated.
3. Rock fall is a type of fast-moving
landslide that happens when rock
or earth falls, bounces, or rolls from
a cliff or down a very steep slope. 

4. Rock Toppling is a type of

fast-moving landslide that
happens when rock or earth falls,
bounces, or rolls from a cliff or
down a very steep slope. 
5. Debris Flow i.e. 6. Lateral Spreading occurs
downslope movement of when the soil mass spreads
collapsed, unconsolidated laterally and this spreading
material typically along a comes with tensional cracks in
stream channel. the soil mass.
 Causes of Landslides

• Deforestation is also one of the main reasons for landslides because trees,
& plants keep the soil particles compact.
• Shifting cultivation is common in hilly regions. Almost every year, residents
burn the forests for cultivation purposes. This makes such regions more
vulnerable to landslides.
• It can be caused because of Heavy rainfall and Earthquakes as well.
• Urbanisation i.e. increasing population pressure in few regions is alarming.
Intensive urbanisation activities such as establishing commercial housing
projects and road construction reduce the vegetation cover.
 Impacts of Landslides 

▪ Landslides increase the risk of floods. It is because the debris increases the
river sediment. As a result, irregular course rivers become frequent, resulting in
floods.
▪ It damages houses, roads and buildings. This further creates a financial
burden for rebuilding infrastructure to rehabilitate the masses.
▪ Loss of human lives is one of the severe effect.
▪ Mud, debris and rocks slide from the slope during landslides. This restricts
human movement and creates a traffic barrier on highway.
 Prevention and Remediation of Landslides

• Improving surface and subsurface drainage: It can increase the stability of a

landslide-prone slope. Surface water should be diverted away from the
landslide-prone region by channeling water in a sewer pipe to the base of the
slope.
• Excavating the head: Removing the soil and rock at the head of the landslide
decreases the driving pressure and can slow or stop a landslide.
• Buttressing the toe: If the toe of the landslide is at the base of the slope, fill
can be placed over the toe and along the base of the slope. The fill increases the
resisting forces along the failure surface in the toe area.
• Constructing piles and retaining walls: Piles are metal beams that are either
driven into the soil or placed in drill holes. Properly placed piles should extend
into a competent rock layer below the landslide
References:
• https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-landslide-and-what-causes-one
• https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/hazards/rockfall/
• https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic13/pic13_5.html
• https://www.godigit.com/guides/natural-disasters/landslides-in-india