Mass Wasting

Geomorphic process by which soil sand, regolith, and rock move downslope
typically as a mass largely under the force of gravity.

Processes Subaqueous
Submarine slumps Events that
trigger
SEDIMENT FLOW Submarine debris flow
Slurry flow Shocks and vibrations
Turbidity current
Solifluction Slope modification
Debris flow Undercutting
Mud flow
Changes in hydrologic
Granular flow characteristics
Controlling
Creep factors Changes in slope
strength
Earth flow SLOPE ANGLE
Volcanic eruptions
Grain flow Component of gravity
perpendicular to the
Debris avalanche slope
Component of gravity
parallel to the slope Factors
Affecting
Force of gravity pulls
Slope
SLOPE on mass
Stability
Slump Type of earth material
ROLE OF WATER
Rock fall & debris fall PRESENCE OF Topography
Rock slide & debris CLAYS Slope angle
slide Expansive and
hydrocompacting soils Climate

Sensitive soils Vegetation

Quick clays Water

Time
 Mass Wasting
Geomorphic process by which soil sand, regolith, and rock move
downslope typically as a mass largely under the force of
gravity.

Processes
Controlling
SEDIMENT FLOW Subaqueous
factors
Slurry flow Submarine slumps
SLOPE ANGLE
Solifluction Component of gravity Submarine debris flow
Debris flow perpendicular to the Turbidity current
slope
Mud flow
Component of gravity Events that
Granular flow parallel to the slope trigger
Creep Force of gravity pulls
on mass Shocks and vibrations
Earth flow
ROLE OF WATER Slope modification
Grain flow
PRESENCE OF Undercutting
Debris avalanche
CLAYS
Changes in hydrologic
SLOPE Expansive and characteristics
hydrocompacting soils
Slump Changes in slope
Sensitive soils
Rock fall & debris fall strength
Quick clays
Rock slide & debris Volcanic eruptions
slide how landslide
hazard can be Factors
landslide warning a. Hazard zone reduced?
mapping. One of the most Affecting
important step in hazard mitigation is the production
a. Springs, seeps, orsigns
saturated ground in areas that of a landslide hazard map. These maps should
Slope
have not typically been wet before. serve to reduce hazard by keeping people away Stability
from the most vulnerable slopes. Type of earth material
b. New cracks or unusual bulges in the ground, street
b. Proper land use
pavements or sidewalks. • Areas covered by degraded natural vegetation in Topography
c. Soil moving away from foundations. the upper slopes should be afforested and existing
d. Ancillary structures such as decks and patios tilting natural vegetation preserved Slope angle
and/or moving relative to the main house. • Developmental activity should be taken up only
e. Tilting or cracking of concrete floors and after a detailed study of the area
• Proper care to be taken to avoid blockage of
Climate
foundations.
natural drainage Vegetation
f. Broken water lines and other underground utilities. • Mandatory total avoidance of settlement in the risk
g. Leaning telephone poles, trees, retaining walls or zone
Water
fences. • Building codes that limit the steepness of slope
h. Offset fence lines. when building in hilly areas
• Relocate settlements and infrastructures that are
Time
i. Sunken or down-dropped road beds.
in the possible path of a landslide
j. Rapid increase in creek water levels, possibly c. Engineering mitigation techniques
accompanied by increased turbidity (soil content). • Anchoring the footings of a structure in solid
k. Sudden decrease in creek water levels though rain is bedrock. This is a simple mitigation method for
still falling or just recently stopped. creep.
l. Sticking doors and windows, and visible open spaces • Drainage systems that drain water from the
surface and/or subsurface
indicating jambs and frames out of plumb. • Buttress fills and retaining devices to stabilize
m. A faint rumbling sound that increases in volume is slope. Example includes retaining walls, shotcrete,
noticeable as the landslide nears. metal mesh, and rockbolts.
n. Unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders • Building deflection walls to send flows around a
knocking together, might indicate moving debris structure