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SLOPE PROCESSES,
LANDSLIDES, AND
SUBSIDENCE
La Conchita slide R.L. Schuster, U.S. Geological Survey
Figure 9.3
Types of Landslides
Figure 9.4
Slope Stability
Safety Factor: = Resisting/Driving Forces
If SF >1, then safe or stable slope
If SF <1, then unsafe or unstable slope
Driving and resisting force variables:
Slip surface plane of weakness
Type of Earth materials
Slope angle and topography
Climate, vegetation, and water
Shaking
Causes vs. triggers
Human Land Use and Landslide
Urbanization, irrigation
Timber harvesting in weak,
relatively unstable areas
Artificial fillings of loose
materials
Artificial modification
of landscape
Dam construction
Mitigating the Landslide Hazard (1)
Identify potential landslides
Photographic analysis
Topographic map and detailed field check
Historic data
Landslide hazard inventory map
Grading code from the least stable to the most
stable
Application of geologic and engineering
knowledge before any hillside development
Mitigating the Landslide Hazard (2)
Preventing landslides
Drainage control: Reducing infiltration and
surface runoff
Slope grading: Reducing the overall slope
Slope supports: Retaining walls or deep
supporting piles
Avoid landslide hazards
Landslide warning for critical evacuations
Correcting landslides
Warning of Impending Landslides
Monitoring changes
Human surveillance
Instrumental survey: Tilt meter and geophones
Landslide warning system
Info for public awareness and education
Enough time for public evacuation
Stop or reroute traffic flow
Emergency services
Snow Avalanche [GNFAvCtr]
Mountainous regions
Rapid downslope
movement of snow and
ice
Location, location
Preventive measures:
Well-designed
explosives
Engineering structures
to retain, divert, or
retard avalanches
Subsurface ground Subsidence
failure
Natural or human-
induced
Slow settling or
rapid collapse
Causes:
Withdrawal of fluids
(water, oil and gas,
steam)
Removal of solid
materials
(dissolution, mining)
Process of Figure 9.25
Subsidence
Settling
Long Beach harbor
Houston
Mexico City
Mississippi delta
Removal of Solid Materials (1)
Sinkholes
Dissolution of carbonate rocks, limestone,
and dolomite
Affecting most of the conterminous states
Natural or artificial fluctuations in water
table increasing the problem
Triggering other problems: Sinkholes as
waste dumping sites
Removal of Solid Materials (2)