Geological Hazards

Presented by: Nikka L. Madelo

Ailyn A. Manpinsahan Feb. 14, 2023
Learning Objectives:

1. Explain geological hazards

2. Describe landslide

3. Discuss sinkholes

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Geological Processes

Geological processes are naturally occurring events that have

an effect on the earth's geology, either directly or indirectly.
Plate tectonics, weathering, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
mountain formations, deposition, erosion, droughts, flooding,
and landslides are a few examples of geological processes.

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What is Geological Hazard?

A geologic hazard is an unfavorable

geologic feature that can result in injury,
loss of property, or even death. When
people get in the way of these geologic
processes, they only turn into dangers;
otherwise, we would find them
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fascinating but not alarming.
Landslide

The sliding down of a slope of a

mass of rock, debris, or earth is known
as a landslide. Landslides are a type of
"mass wasting," which refers to any
downward movement of soil or rock
caused by gravity alone.
What causes of Landslide?

• Disturbances in a slope's inherent stability lead to landslides.

• They may come before or after severe storms, earthquakes, or
volcanic eruptions.

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Two major categories of Landslides

Shallow Landslides Deep-seated Landslides

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Two major categories of Landslides

Shallow Landslides

Shallow landslides are rooted in the soil layer

and often form slumps along roadways or fast-
moving debris flows down valleys. These types of
landslides are often called ‘mudslides’ by the news
media. Shallow landslides occur as flows, slides, or
rockfalls, and toppless.
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 Two major categories of Landslides

Deep-seated landslidesDeep-seated
are rooted inLandslides
bedrock, are often slow moving, and can cover
large areas and devastate infrastructure and
housing developments. Deep-seated landslides
usually occur as translational slides, rotational
slides, or large block slides. Deep-seated
landslides are typically much larger than
shallow landslides.

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 Landslide and Mudflows

Landslides are caused by disturbances in a slope’s natural stability.

They can occur as a result of heavy rains, droughts, earthquakes, or
volcanic eruptions. Mudslides/mudflows form when water
accumulates rapidly in the ground, resulting in a surge of water-
saturated rock, earth, and debris.

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Types of Landslides

• FLOWS
• SLIDES
• ROCKFALLS AND TOPPLESS

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Types of Landslides

• FLOWS
- Flows are generally a slurry mixture of water, soil, rock
and (or) debris that moves rapidly downslope. Flows may or
may not be confined to a channel.

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Flows
Earthflows
Have a characteristic
‘hourglass’ shape. The slope
material liquefies and runs out,
forming a bowl or depression at
the head. Flows usually occur in
fine-grained material on moderate,
water-saturated slopes.
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Flows
Debris flows
Usually occur in steep gullies
and contain more coarse material
than a mudflow. They move very
rapidly and can travel for many
miles. Slopes where vegetation has
been removed by fire or humans are
at greater risk for debris flows.
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Flows
Debris avalanches
Are unchannelized debris
flows that move very rapidly.
They typically do not mobilize far
and sometimes move like a snow
avalanche.

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Flows
Lahars
Debris flows that originate on
volcanoes. A volcanic eruption can
rapidly melt snow and ice, causing
a deluge of rock, soil, ash, and
water that accelerates down the
slopes of a volcano.

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Flows
Lateral spreads
Occur on very low-angle slopes
toward a free face such as a cliff or
embankment. Movement is
accompanied by cracking of the
ground. Failure is caused by
liquefaction (when soil is transformed
from a solid to a liquid), usually
because of an earthquake. 18
Flows
Soil creep
Very slow (inches/year),
steady, downward movement of
soil or rock. Creep is indicated by
curved tree trunks, bent fences or
retaining walls, tilted poles or
fences, and small soil ripples or
ridges.
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Types of Landslides

• Slides
- Slides are the downslope movements of soil or rock along
a surface and can be deep-seated or shallow. The initiation of
slides, like flows or rockfalls, is sensitive to steep slopes, the
additional weight of water or other loads, and friction along
their base. 20
Slides
Translational slides
Usually fail along geologic
discontinuities such as faults.
Joints, bedding surfaces, or the
contact between two rock types.
They move out or down along a
planar surface with little tilting,
and can travel great distance.
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Slides
Rotational slides (slumps)
Occur along a curved or
spoon-shaped surface. Rotational
slides often occur because the
internal strength of the material is
overcome by its own weight.

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Slides
Block slides
A particular type of translational
slide that occur when large and
relatively intact slabs of rock or earth
are rapidly transported downslope.
Can be large and damaging and occur
where alternating layers of strong and
weak rock slope downhill.

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Types of Landslides

• ROCKFALLS AND TOPPLESS

- Rockfalls and toppless are usually rapid, downward
movement of large pieces of rock. Sometimes this is enough
rock to cover a road or bury a stream or river.

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Slides
Rockfalls and Toppless

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What is a “Sinkhole”?

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SINKHOLES

A sinkhole is a closed natural depression in the ground

caused by the removal of material beneath the ground and the
subsequent collapse or gradual subsidence of the surface into
the resulting void.

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Warning Signs
Some warning signs of a naturally occurring sinkholes include:
Gradual localized ground settlement
Doors and windows fail to close properly
Cracks in a foundation

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Warning Signs

A circular pattern of ground cracks outlining the

sinking area
Vegetation stress due to a lowered water table
Turbidity in local well water due to sediment
washing into the limestone’s pores

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Causes of Sinkholes

Sinkholes can be natural or manmade.

 Natural sinkholes occur due to erosion or underground water.

 Areas that have a bedrock made of limestone, salt deposits or carbonate

rock are most susceptible to erosion and the formation of such holes.

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Causes of Sinkholes
 Human activities like:

- Drilling

- Mining

- Construction

- Broken water or drain pipes

- Improperly compacted soil after excavation work or

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- Heavy traffic can result in small to large sinkholes
Types of Sinkholes

• Solution
• Cover Collapse and
• Cover Subsidence

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Solution sinkholes

Are most commonly seen in areas

that have a very thin cover of soil in
the surface, exposing the bedrock
below to continual erosion by water.

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Cover Collapse sinkholes

These take place when the bedrocks is

covered by a deep layer of soil and earth.
Once the bedrock begins to get eroded,
crack start forming in the rocky area
around it.

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Cover Subsidence sinkholes

The hole is formed over a period of

time. The bedrock here is covered by soil
and materials which are not well knitted
together. Areas that have soil comprising
largely of clay or sand often face the
occurrence of this hole.

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Effects of Sinkholes

• Change the general topography of the area and divert

streams of underground water
• Damage human life and property
• Pollute the ground water

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Recovery of Volcanoes
If you have to work in an environment where there is a
volcanic ash be sure to take the following actions.

1. Wear an approved respirator.

2. Clear roofs of ash fall as soon as possible to avoid collapse.

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Recovery of Volcanoes

3. Remove ash from any areas where animals will be confined. With ash
covering the ground livestock cannot graze.
4. Throw away any food or water, for both humans and animals that have
been contaminated by the ash. Ash is commonly contaminated with heavy
metals that are toxic to humans and animals. In addition, pyroclastic
material contains glass-like particles that can cut or irritate lungs and
intestine.
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