What is a landslide?
Q: What is a landslide?
A: A landslide is a wide range of ground movements, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows.
Q: What is the main cause of landslides?
A: The main cause of landslides is that there is a slope and material goes down the slope because of gravity.
Q: What other things contribute to landslides?
A: Other things that can contribute to landslides include erosion by rivers, glaciers or ocean waves; earthquakes; volcanic eruptions; vibrations from machinery, traffic, blasting or thunder; weight from much rain or snow; stockpiling of rock or ore; groundwater pressure making the slope unstable; and removal of deep-rooted plants that bind colluvium to bedrock.
Q: How does thixotropic material affect landslides?
A: Thixotropic material such as mud or sand and water can change from being stable one minute to fluid the next minute due to adding water or pressure, or shaking. This sudden change in stability can lead to major disasters like lahars or mudslides.
Q: Can volcanoes experience landslides?
A: Yes, it is possible for much of a volcano to just slide down suddenly due to factors like heavy rains and debris flows, which happened with Toba, Krakatoa and Mount St Helens.
